News

By Saio Marrah

Sierra Leone’s former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, the subject of an ongoing Preliminary Investigation (PI) over alleged treason, misprison of treason and two counts of harbouring, has been granted bail for him to get medical care out of the country.

The Presiding Magistrate, Santigie Bangura granted bail at the Pademba Road court No.2 in Freetown on Wednesday 17^th January 2024, after a medical report of the former president was presented by lead Defence Lawyer, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara.

By Saio Marrah

Justice Komba Kamanda has refused bail application on medical grounds for Bai Mahmoud Bangura, the 8^th accused in the ongoing treason offence case at the High Court No.1 in Freetown.

The Judge in his ruling after hearing both lead Defence and State Prosecution lawyers, Africanus Sorie Sesay for the 8^th accused and Ahmed J.M. Bockarie respectively about the bail, the request was refused on grounds of the seriousness of the offence.

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

To maintain the standards of the College, Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone through its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Professor Lawrence Kamara on orientation day confirmed to new students that the institution will ban repeating in classes.

A short notice signed by the Deputy Registrar, Brima Bah on the 16^th January 2024 stated that starting this academic year, there will be no repeating in Year 1 and no student will progress to Year 2 with any reference.

By Nasratu Kargbo  

The Office of the President together with some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) spent an amount of thirty-three million,  four thousand seven hundred and thirty thousand and seventy-six Leones (33,004,730.76)  without any relevant documentary evidence, according to the Auditor General’s 2022 Report.

By Nasratu Kargbo

Deputy Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Jacob Tenga Sessie and six other persons are still under custody at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly diverting 6.5 Billion old Leones to a community bank in Kabala, money which was meant for a consultancy firm for the construction of the Kenema-Pendembu Road.

In an interview with Politico on the 15th of January 2024, Public Relations Officer at the ACC Sylvanus Blake said they have not granted bail on the said matter.

By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah

A Press Release dated 14^th January 2024 from the National Grand Coalition (NGC) has criticised the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu, for ‘aiding and abetting’ alleged corruption by Clerk of Parliament, Paran Tarawally.

By Nasratu Kargbo

Following a video published on Justice TV Online accusing the Speaker of Parliament Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu of sexual exploitation and abuse of female Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, the Speaker has made a formal complaint to the Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to examine the allegations levied against him.