Sierra Leone anti-graft body fails to quiz ex-president

Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Photo credit: File | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Investigators are seeking to interview former president Ernest Bai Koroma after a probe found that funds worth tens of millions of dollars from his time in office remain unaccounted for. 
  • Julius Maada Bio, the West African state's current president, pledged last month to claw back misappropriated funds.

There was tension in the northern Sierra Leonean city of Makeni on Thursday where an attempt to question the country’s former president accused of graft failed.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said its agents were forced to withdraw in the face of protesting supporters of the former president, Ernest Bai Koroma, who was holed up in his residence as the agents unsuccessfully negotiated their way into his compound.

While the anti-graft agency said its agents were prevented from entering, Koroma’s handlers denied this.

The former president is wanted among over 100 former officials who served in his administration from 2007 to 2018 for various suspected corruption offenses. They were found wanting by a Commission of Inquiry (COI) set up by President Julius Maada Bio, who succeeded Koroma in elections in 2018.

The current administration says much of his term in office was characterized by corruption and abuse of office.

Koroma's main opposition APC says the charges against its members are politically motivated and it has rejected the COI findings.

Koroma himself described the findings as designed to tarnish his image and vowed to defend his reputation.

Thursday’s incident provoked shock and consternation.

The plan to question the former president last week was postponed after consultation by lawyers of ACC and Koroma.

The ACC said Koroma had turned down a request for him to report to its head office in Freetown.

Negotiation between the two for an alternative venue at the ACC’s regional office in Makeni was also changed to the residence of the former president.

Armed police were deployed in the township of Makeni ahead of Thursday.

But despite the heavy security deployment, supporters of the former president outnumbered the police.

ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, said his men were forced to retreat amidst threat of violence by Koroma’s supporters.

Video footages shared by the ACC chief showed angry supporters of the former president mounted roadblocks on major streets leading to his residence. They also displayed masquerades associated with a fearful secret society.

In a statement, the office of the former president said he was willing to avail himself for questioning and it accused the ACC of painting a contrary picture.

Koroma remains leader of his party, the APC, which is the largest party in parliament.