Government Denies Secret Negotiations in Koroma Case Discontinuation

Government Denies Secret Negotiations in Koroma Case Discontinuation

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) has officially dismissed allegations of secret negotiations behind the recent discontinuation of criminal proceedings against former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Abubakar Joe Sesay, the National Outreach Coordinator for MoICE, addressed the claims during an appearance on AYV, asserting that the decision made by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was conducted strictly in accordance with national legal procedures.

“In the discontinuation of former President Koroma's treason case, nothing happened behind the scenes, and nobody reached out,” Sesay stated.

Sesay highlighted that the Attorney-General utilized authority granted under Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024, to drop the charges. He further clarified that the law does not require the Attorney-General to provide public justifications for such decisions.

Framing the development as a move toward national unity, Sesay characterized President Julius Maada Bio as a leader committed to peace and forgiveness. He expressed the government's hope that this resolution marks the beginning of a constructive partnership between President Bio and the former president, serving the broader interests of Sierra Leone.

Despite the withdrawal of charges, Sesay emphasized that the government maintains its stance on the supremacy of the law.

“The law is still supreme and the principle remains that no one is above the law,” he affirmed.