Bai Koroma, the Ex-president of Sierra Leone, arrives in Nigeria for medical treatment
The former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has arrived in Nigeria for a medical treatment, said a report on Friday.
The 70-year-old politician, Koroma, was charged with treason, on January 3, 2024, for allegedly playing a role in an abortive military coup against the government of Julius Maada the incumbent president of Sierra Leone in November 2023. Bai Koroma
But after the pronouncement of his judgement by the judge presiding over his trial, a Sierra Leone high court on 17th Wednesday ruled that he was free to leave the country.
According to authorities, this was in agreement with the ruling president, Julius Maada Bio and the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which the Nigerian president is the Chairman.
On January 3, Koroma was scheduled to fly to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, however he did not yet have the formal approval of president Julius Maada Bio until the arrangement was secured for him by the ECOWAS presidents. Bai Koroma
Following the court’s consideration of the 15-nation body on Wednesday, Koroma was granted permission to spend a maximum of three months in Nigeria for medical treatment.
However, Koroma’s adviser, Sheriff Mahmud Ismail told reporters earlier Friday that the former president had boarded a Nigerian Air Force plane, but he did not reveal the flight destination.
The Sierra Leone High Court said in a statement that the former president was permitted to leave the country to seek medical treatment in Nigeria “on condition that his sureties should provide regular medical updates, signed and duly authorised” and he would only stay in Nigeria “for at the most three months from the date of this order.”
The President of ECOWAS, Omar Touray, in an official letter, informed President Julius Maada Bio of the Nigerian government agreement to offer the Sierra Leone ex-president Ernest Koroma a temporary stay within the three months span due to his medical treatment. Bai Koroma
“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,” read the letter.
Also in the letter was highlighted the government of Bio’s obligation to continue payments of allowances, all benefits and entitlements to the former president.
Koroma departed from Freetown, accompanied by his aides, personal assistant and office manager, and landed in Abuja on Friday afternoon 19th January 2024; and was welcomed by Nuhu Ribadu, the Nigeria National Security Adviser and the ECOWAS president, Omar Alieu Touray. Bai Koroma
