70-years-old former President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, who was accused of fostering a failed military coup against President Julius Bio, has finally arrived in Abuja in a settlement political asylum in Nigeria.
Koroma who arrived in Abuja on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023, on health ground as claimed by Sierra Leone government, is actually in Nigeria on exile as negotiated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Koroma, who led the West African nation from 2007 to 2018, had received permission from judicial authorities on Wednesday to spend a maximum of three months in Nigeria for medical treatment.
President Bio called the court’s decision a “humanitarian gesture” during an address to the nation on Thursday evening.
Koroma was welcomed by Mr Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA); and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray.
Koroma had been under house arrest since December 9, was charged in early January with four offences including treason in relation to the events in late November.
On November 26, armed attackers stormed a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons and two police stations, clashing with security forces.
Twenty-one people were killed and hundreds of prisoners escaped before authorities were able to regain control after what they deemed a coup attempt by members of the armed forces.
At least 80 people were arrested in connection with the clashes, most of them military personnel.
However, in what seemed like a soft-landing for former President, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) succeeded in getting political asylum for him in Nigeria, where he is expected to be housed for some time.
A letter by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, addressed to the present President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, under the headline: “Temporary Relocation of Former President to Abuja” requested for the former President to be allowed to travel to Nigeria.
The letter was written on January 2, 2024 with Presidents, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana) and Macky Sall (Sierra Leone) copied.
“I refer to the mission to Freetown on 23 December of the high-level ECOWAS delegation led by His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Republic of Ghana, and His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.
“I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that as part of the agreement reached during the mission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has offered to host His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, Former President of Sierra Leone, in Abuja on a temporary basis. The former President has accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria.
“Subject to your approval, arrangements will be made to fly Former President Koroma out of Freetown on Thursday 4 January 2024. He will be accompanied by his office manager and personal assistant.
“In addition to seeking Your Excellency’s approval for the departure from Sierra Leone of the Former President on or around the date indicated above, I would like to seek your confirmation that once President Koroma leaves Sierra Leone, the following arrangements (as agreed during the mission) will be put in place,” it stated.
The arrangement, however, included that the, “Government of Sierra Leone will discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him;
“The Government of Sierra Leone will also continue to disburse to him his benefits as former President.
“The Government of Sierra Leone will secure his residences in the various locations in Sierra Leone.
“The Government of Sierra Leone will consider refunding medical and travel expenses he has incurred.
“While looking forward to Your Excellency’s favourable response, I take the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
