The former president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has been granted asylum by the government of Nigeria.
The asylum was facilitated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The former president who ruled the West African country from 2007 to 2018 has been caught up in the political conflicts – resulting to post election tension, culminating to the failed coup attempt that almost oust the current government of Julius Maada Bio.
The government of Sierra Leone had accused him 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
Before the latest crisis the government had accused him and his allies for human rights violation, embezzlement of $1 billion, and mismanagement of the country resources during his long tenure.
Following the accusation, a commission of inquiry was set up by the government of Sierra Leone in 2018, to investigate the former president and his allies.
The commission indicted Koroma and his associate and recommended their prosecution, forced to refund the money they stole and banned from holding public office.
Reacting to the commission’s recommendation, Koroma and his supporters challenged its credibility and refuted its findings. He labeled the exercise as a motive of witch-hunt.
Behind the accusations and denial, the former president and the government of Maada Bio have been at logger heads, creating political tension, violence and instability in the country, which threatens the former’s personal safety, security and continues stay in the country.
Clashes have erupted in different parts of the country, between the supporters of the two leaders, leaving several people injured and arrested.
While the government froze Koroma’s assets and restricted his movements, gunmen had attacked his residence in his hometown, Makeni, in March 2023.
Many think that Koroma’s asylum in Nigeria is to douse off the heightened internal political conflicts in the country – against the accusation of being behind the post election failed coup.
The government said it was willing to drop all the charges if Mr Koroma vacated the country tentatively, an offer the former president accepted.
According to a letter by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone sent to the government of Nigeria on Tuesday, reads:
“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.
Back home, some of his supporters feared that Koroma’s asylum in Nigeria will automatically create a leadership vacuum which might lead to internal confusion and power tussle within his party, the All People’s Congress (APC), which could lead to divisions that might threaten its strength and survival.
Political critics also believed that Bio would leverage on the former president’s absence from the country to exercise undue political power and suppress the voice of the opposition, as there will be no one to challenge him and curtail his excesses.
Koroma was elected as leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, on 24 March 2002, after defeating then-incumbent APC leader Edward Turay.
