The Economic Community of West African States has said it would relocate former Sierra Leone President, Ernest Bal Koroma, to Nigeria on Thursday (today).
This was contained in a statement signed by the ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, dated Tuesday and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports that the ex-Sierra Leonean president was indicted in the failed coup of November 26, 2023.
On November 26, armed attackers stormed a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons and two police stations, clashing with security forces.
Twenty-one people were killed and hundreds of prisoners escaped before authorities were able to regain control of the situation.
The violence sparked fears of another coup in West Africa, where Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all experienced putsches since 2020.
Sierra Leone on Tuesday charged 12 people with treason in connection with the coup attempt. Among the 12 is Amadu Koita, a former soldier and bodyguard of Koroma.
According to Touray, the relocation of Koroma was part of the agreement reached by the mission to Freetown on December 23, 2023 of the high-level ECOWAS delegation led President of the Republic of Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sail.
The statement also disclosed that the former President had accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria, and subject to approval, arrangements would be made to fly former President Koroma out of Freetown today.
The statement read: “I refer to the mission to Freetown on 23 December of the high-level ECOWAS delegation led by His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, and His Excellency Macky Sail, President of the Republic of Senegal.
“I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that as part of the agreement reached during the mission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has offered to host His Excellency Ernest Bal Horoma, Former President of Sierra Leone, in Abuja on a temporary basis.
“The former President has accepted the offer to be hosted In Nigeria. Subject to your approval, arrangements will be made to fly former President Koroma out of Freetown on Thursday 4 January 2024.
“He will be accompanied by his office manager and personal assistant. In addition to seeking Your Excellency’s approval for the departure from Sierra Leone of the former President on or around the date indicated above, I would like to seek your confirmation that once President Koroma leaves Sierra Leone, the following arrangements (as agreed during the mission) will be put in place:
“The government of Sierra Leone will discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him. The government of Sierra Leone will also continue to disburse to him his benefits as former President.
“The government of Sierra Leone will secure his residences in the various locations in Sierra Leone. The Government of Sierra Leone will consider refunding medical and travel expenses he has incurred.”
“While looking forward to Your Excellency’s favourable response, I take this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.”