By Saio Marrah
The first accused in the ongoing Sierra Leone UN Chancery Building case, Saidu Nallo, during his testimony at the Freetown High Court no.1 was seen sobbing while telling the court that the corruption case was levied against him at a time he had dedicated all his time to national service.
Nallo said that during that time, he had no time with his family due to his service that was highly demanded at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and the Mission in New York.
He informed the court about this on Friday 14th July 2023, when he was narrating his educational background and the different services he had rendered at Sierra Leone’s UN Mission in New York, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Freetown and other ministries.
Nallo’s emotional disposition prompted his Defence Lawyer, Pa Momoh Fofanah to apply for an adjournment of the case for him to put himself together.
After granting the application, Justice Fisher told Nallo that he wants him to compose himself and be ready to proceed with the matter at the next adjourned date- Wednesday 19th July this year.
Responding to a question by his defence lawyer who was the then Minister of Foreign Affairs upon his (Nallo’s) return from New York to Freetown in 2016, Nallo said it was the fourth accused, Samura Kamara (PHD).
Nallo also told the court that upon his arrival in New York in 2010, the renovation of Sierra Leone’ Permanent UN Mission, Chancery Building, had already been approved.
He said when he was reposted to the Foreign Ministry in Freetown 2016, it was a transitional moment when Ambassador Lasi Kargbo was moving to State House from the rank as the Director General at the Ministry, while Ambassador Khadijatu Bassi came in as the new Director General.
He said based on his understanding, the renovation of the Chancery Building had been the subject of discussion since 2003 or 2004.
Before departing New York in December 2015, he said Vandi Chidi Minah was the Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the UN, while Alusine Sesay was the head of the Chancery Building.
Nallo said he left New York around December of 2015 and arrived in Freetown in January 2016, with the rank of counselor, a position he had already attained in New York.
According to him, he was serving as the Acting Director of Multilateral Division, while providing other support to the then Director- General (DG) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown.
The court learnt from him that at the time, his work at the multilateral division dealt with the work of the Mission in New York, the General Assembly of UN and UN agencies as well.
According to him, sometime between April - May 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Acting Permanent Secretary, but some two months later, he was promoted to the rank of substantive permanent secretary and that he was later reposted back to New York around November 2017.
Responding to a question from the presiding judge about the health status of the fifth accused, Kandeh Foday Basil Kamara, who did not attend the hearing, his Defence lawyer, Teddy Koroma told the court that he was still responding to treatment.
Justice Fisher then ordered for his medical report. Nallo and five others including politician Samura Kamara face a long list corruption charges.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (17/07/23)
