Will EBK’s Treason Trial Continue?

One of the most asked questions on the streets is,will the treason trial of Former President Ernest Bai Koroma continue as planned on Wednesday, March 6, 2024? The anticipation hangs thick in the air, intensified by a two-month adjournment since January.

Facing a four-count charge connected to his alleged involvement in the government overthrow on November 26, 2023, Koroma stands accused of treason, misprision of treason, and harboring. His legal team vehemently rejects these charges, branding them a “dangerous precedent” that casts a dark shadow over the nation.

Lead Counsel Joseph Kamara boldly defends the former president, portraying the allegations as part of a political vendetta that could set a perilous precedent for dragging a democratically elected head of state into such controversies.

Judge Samuel O. Taylor, responding to these weighty accusations, granted bail to Koroma under specified conditions. The conditions include restrictions on the number of individuals at Koroma’s residence, limiting it to his wife, children, lawyers, and political party members, to a maximum of 10 people at any given time. Furthermore, the former President is tethered to his residence, unable to leave without explicit permission from the Inspector-General of Police.

In a surprising turn, on January 17, Koroma received authorization to leave Sierra Leone for urgent medical treatment, following a successful bail review application. Justice S.O. Taylor, who had initially examined and approved the bail conditions, allowed the former President, currently facing serious charges, to seek medical attention abroad for ninety days. Subsequently, Koroma sought medical treatment in Nigeria.

Yet, a cloud of uncertainty now shrouds the upcoming court appearance. Will the wheels of justice turn as scheduled, or will the trial be further delayed due to the former president’s current medical absence? The nation watches and contemplates the delicate balance between justice and a leader’s health, pondering the implications of a trial that hangs in the balance of political intrigue and personal well-being.