Abuja, Jan. 22. 2024 – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed gratitude to the Sierra Leonean government for allowing former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, to travel abroad for medical reasons.
ECOWAS expressed the gratitude in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
It commended the “humanitarian gesture” of the government of Sierra Leone, saying the gesture serves the “greater interest of Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS region.”
It should be recalled that a Sierra Leonean court had authorised Koroma’s temporary travel on medical grounds.
Koroma is facing charges of treason and other offences related to his alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in November 2023.
The ruling stipulates that Koroma, 70, can stay in Nigeria for no more than three months and must return to Sierra Leone for a court hearing in March.
ECOWAS, a regional bloc of 15 West African nations, had previously intervened in the situation, with presidents from Senegal and Ghana facilitating a deal for Koroma’s temporary exile in Nigeria. (GBN)
