By Saio Marrah
Lieutenant- Colonel Dr. Paul Fallah Nabieu attached to the 34 military hospital as surgeon consultant, has testified at the ongoing treason trial in connection to the November 26th failed coup during which Joint Force Commander, Major-General Dauda Fred Alpha sustained complicated blast injuries.
The prosecution’s additional witness, Lieutenant Nabieu told this to the court on Wednesday 17th April 2024 in Freetown.
Led in by lead state prosecutor, Lawyer Aruna Jalloh told the court that on Sunday 26th November 2023, he was at his quarter at Wilberforce Barracks in the early morning hours when he started hearing gunshots.
At 11:00 o’clock that morning, he received a phone call from one of his junior doctors at the hospital that the Joint Force Commander was brought for treatment as he had sustained blast injuries.
The witness said he therefore went to the hospital where General Alpha was admitted and saw a plaster on his side. “I opened the plaster and saw two deep wounds in his back.
According to him, since he was not sure of the nature of the injury, he requested for scan, which result indicated that there were metallic objects very close to his spinal cord.
Because of the limited facilities in Sierra Leone, and considering the complication which he said can lead to bleeding, blood poisoning and nerve damage and eventually paralysis, he said only a neuro-surgeon specializing in brain and spinal cord issues can perform the surgery but there’s no one in the country to do that.
He also pointed out that if such metallic object stays in the body for long it could lead to death.
On that basis, he therefore requested for urgent medical referral. Dr, Nabieu said they contacted India, Ghana and Kenya, pointing out that the surgery was carried out in Kenya.
The witness said he was in constant communication with the doctors in Kenya until when they removed the said metallic object. Upon his return to Sierra Leone, the witness said he re-examined General Alpha noting that the wound had completely healed even though he was still feeling some minor pains. “He is currently at our outpatient at 34 military hospital,” he said.
The witness also tendered the medical document to the court.
It could be recalled that General Alpha had testified at the Court Martial how he sustained the wounds from a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) that hit his vehicle at close range.
According to him, the blast, which beheaded his personal body guard beyond recognition, happened after his troops fell in an ambush on the day of the incident, 26th November 2024.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (19/04/24)
