By Saio Marrah
Amadu Koita Makalo, the first accused in the ongoing treason trial, told the High Court in Freetown that he was completely innocent of all charges levied against him in relation to the November 26, 2023 coup attempt.
Koita took the witness stand in his own defence on Monday 1st July, 2024, led by his lawyer S. A. Conteh on allegations that he conspired with the 2nd and 12th accused persons and others to commit treason by seizing control of Wilberforce Barracks, Cockerill military headquarters, Joint Logistics Unit at Murray Town the main correctional centers.
Koita said he didn’t know the 2nd and 12th accused persons until he was charged to court.
The accused said he served the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces for 25 years without being charged for even a minor offence and that during the civil war he was shot in his leg and he still carries the pain.
On the allegation that between 5th and 26th November 2023, he conspired with others to plan and execute the failed coup, Koita said he was in the UK. He said from time to time he sent money to his friends including soldiers to assist them.
According to him, on November 22, 2023, he flew to Morocco and then to Guinea because he wanted to meet a native doctor to attend to his bad leg because he couldn’t find a scientific cure in the UK and to attend the funeral rites of his brother.
The accused said when he crossed into Kambia from Guinea, he met one Captain Jalloh, who drove him to Makeni and he then proceeded to a village to see a native doctor for him to attend to his leg.
Commenting on the photograph he took together with accused persons and others now declared as fugitives, Koita said he found them there and that as former colleagues they decided to take photos. He said after that, he returned to Makeni and on 25th November he traveled to Lungi by a bike and then to Freetown.
He said while on the ferry crossing over to Freetown, he learnt that one of his friends from the UK, Bai Mahmoud Sankoh had just arrived in Freetown. He said his friend informed him that he was staying at Lumley so he joined him. While at Lumley, he said his friend told (Koita) to accompany him to Old School at Hill Station at about 2:00am on November 26, 2023 but that on their way on a bike, they were stopped at a checkpoint at Bottom Mango, Wilberforce.
Koita told the court that at the checkpoint, military personnel including Ibrahim Bundu alias American, the 2nd accused at the court-martial identified him (Koita) and ordered him to climb down but allowed his friend to proceed.
He said the soldiers arrested him and took him to the barracks and ordered him to do an audio for them and post it on social media because he was a popular person. He said he wasn’t aware of what was happening, he felt uncomfortable but knew he had to obey after refusing on the basis that he only commented on issues he was knowledgeable about.
According to him, Captain Jalloh then told him he would be informed of what was happening and that the soldiers then forcefully placed him (Koita) into their vehicle. He told the court that at about 3:00 o’clock in the morning, one Captain Senesie who showed up ordered the troops to move and they went to Cockerill military headquarters in a convoy. He said at Cockerill, Lieutenant Colonel Sandi joined them in the vehicle and the conversation between Captain Senesie and Lieutenant Colonel Sandi indicated that the two were the commanders.
He said after an exchange of gunfire died down, the troops moved towards Murray Town Junction where he heard a blast which caused the soldiers to climb down while he remained in the vehicle.
Koita said they then went to Congo Cross, where they saw some police Operations Support Division officers who after some conversation with the soldiers joined their convoy heading to Pademba road correctional center but before that he was given a rifle. He said he managed to escape while at Pademba road.
During cross examination by Lawyer Ahmed J.M. Bockarie, Koita rejected what was presented as his statement to the police saying he refused to sign it. He admitted making a telephone call to captain Jalloh before coming to Sierra Leone.
Koita told the court that he met others such as staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and others at the village of the herbalist and he knew the herbalist only as Pa. Sesay.
Koita also identified himself, Captain Jalloh, Idrissa Kamara alias Leather boot and others in a photograph shown to him in court and agreed that the photo was taken at the herbalist’s place.
The case resumes Wednesday July 3, 2024.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (03/07/24)
