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Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Koroma seeks medical care in Nigeria amid treason charges
Sierra Leone’s former President, Ernest Koroma, has landed in Nigeria following permission granted by a court in his home country to seek medical care for three months. The ex-president faced arrest and charges of treason, misprision of treason, and harboring suspects in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Koroma’s arrival in Abuja on Friday was on a Nigerian Air Force plane, where he was received by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the President of the ECOWAS Commission Omar Touray, as reported by Channels Television.
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Bio, addressed the nation, assuring that Mr. Koroma’s departure was solely for specialised medical reasons, suspending the trial during his absence. Despite this, the seriousness of the ongoing trials remains undeterred, aiming to uncover the truth behind the events of November 26.
READ ALSO: Sierra Leone imposes nationwide curfew after attack on army barracks
Speculation surrounds Mr. Koroma’s departure, with rumors suggesting that he may have agreed to go into exile in Nigeria if the charges against him are dropped.
Anonymous sources from the United Nations and ECOWAS reportedly claimed that a deal for Mr. Koroma’s exile was brokered, allowing him to retain the privileges of a former president while in Nigeria.
However, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, dismissed the proposition, labeling it a “unilateral proposition” by the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Ernest Koroma served as the president of Sierra Leone for 11 years until 2018 when the current President, Julius Bio, succeeded him. The unfolding events highlight the complexities surrounding the legal and political landscape in Sierra Leone and the delicate nature of Mr. Koroma’s medical trip to Nigeria.
As the drama unfolds, the region watches closely to see how this high-profile case evolves, questioning the intersection of legal proceedings, diplomatic negotiations, and the health concerns of a former head of state.
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