Ernest Koroma Granted Temporary Exile In Nigeria After Failed Coup Charges

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is temporarily relocating former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma to Nigeria over allegations of masterminding a failed coup to overthrow the current government last November.

The temporary accommodation was arranged as part of an agreement to drop all charges against Mr Koroma, whom the Sierra Leone government accused of treason and four other offences in a high court, on Wednesday, January 3. He was released on bail but placed on house arrest at his residence in Freetown while the matter was adjourned till January 17.

But the government said it was willing to drop all the charges if Mr Koroma vacated the country tentatively.

“As part of the agreement reached during the mission, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has agreed to host His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone, in Abuja, on a temporary basis,” a letter by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone sent to his Nigerian counterpart on Tuesday read.

“The former president has accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria.”

The erstwhile embattled president is expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday in the company of his personal assistant and office manager.

The agreement also assured that Mr Koroma will continue to enjoy his benefits as a former president upon his departure from Sierra Leone.

Military barracks and a prison were invaded on November 26, 2023, where assailants freed about 2,200 inmates and murdered no fewer than 20 persons.

Investigations were conducted, and it was discovered that the security detail of the former president was behind the attack, which the government labelled a foiled coup attempt.