Coup Trail Verdicts at Hand
By: Alimatu Kargbo
The court martial proceedings against six military personnel accused of attempting to overthrow the Sierra Leonean government between June to July 2023, have reached a critical stage, with both prosecution and defense delivering their final addresses before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba.
The high-profile trial, held in Freetown, has drawn significant attention, particularly with the presence of the Director of Public Prosecution, Osman Ibrahim Kanu and 11 other state prosecutors.
Lead prosecutor Joseph A.K. Sesay emphasized that all six accused are long-serving personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and had a duty to protect the nation’s integrity rather than plot against it. He asserted that the state had presented compelling evidence proving their involvement in mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and desertion.
The prosecution’s argument rested on WhatsApp voice messages and text communications allegedly exchanged among the accused, discussing recruitment efforts and logistical preparations for a coup. One message from Corporal Mohamed Koroma reportedly suggested training new recruits, while another mentioned enlisting a female lieutenant to provide intelligence from RSLAF meetings.
The state also played recordings in which the accused referenced key locations such as Makeni and Kambia, where alleged recruitment efforts were underway.
A crucial piece of evidence involved a message in which the first accused, Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay (alias PAO), allegedly added a co-accused to a private group chat that included APC stakeholders and retired executives.
Defense attorneys strongly refuted the prosecution’s claims, arguing that the case was built on circumstantial evidence and lacked concrete proof of intent to commit mutiny.
Lawyer Ibrahim Bangura, representing Major Juana Kabba and Corporal Mohamed Koroma, argued that mere membership in a WhatsApp group does not constitute a coup conspiracy.
He stated that his client forwarded a document without knowing its content and that the listed weapons were not linked to any violent plans.
Furthermore, he contended that seeking asylum in Guinea after the November 26 incident did not equate to desertion, as the accused had previously faced threats to his life.
Defense counsel J.T. Cobber, representing the fifth accused, Zainab Suwu, emphasized that there was no direct evidence linking his client to the coup plot.
He pointed out that the prosecution failed to prove Suwu had knowledge of or actively participated in the planning.
Meanwhile, lawyer Hassan Kamara, representing the fourth accused, Major Ibrahim Abubakarr Bangura, argued that there was no evidence placing his client in meetings where the alleged coup was planned. He noted that while his client was charged with being absent without leave (AWOL), he had already been disciplined for that and could not be punished twice for the same offense.
Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba announced that a 24-hour notice would be issued for his summing-up of the case before the verdict is delivered. The accused face serious charges that could have severe consequences for their military careers and personal freedom.
As the trial nears its conclusion, all eyes are on the Court Martial’s ruling.
