Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has returned to his country after spending more than two years in Nigeria, following the discontinuation of the treason case against him.
Koroma departed Nigeria for Freetown on Sunday, September 6, 2026, more than two years after he left Sierra Leone amid a treason case linked to an alleged attempt to overthrow President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
He was accompanied on his journey by former Nigerian Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Koroma, who served as Sierra Leone’s president from 2007 to 2018, travelled to Nigeria in January 2024 after being granted permission to leave Sierra Leone on medical grounds while facing treason charges.
The charges followed the November 2023 unrest in Sierra Leone, during which armed men attacked military facilities and a correctional centre in what authorities described as an attempted coup. Koroma consistently denied involvement in the alleged plot.
In July 2026, Sierra Leone’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, formally discontinued the criminal proceedings against the former president under Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
The decision brought an end to the proceedings and effectively freed Koroma from the bail conditions imposed on him, allowing him to return home at any time of his choosing.
Following the development, Koroma expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio, the Sierra Leonean government, ECOWAS and Nigerian authorities for their roles in resolving the matter.
He particularly thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government for the support and hospitality extended to him during his stay in Abuja.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan also played a role in efforts to facilitate Koroma’s return.
In a statement following Koroma’s departure, Jonathan said he was pleased to see the former Sierra Leonean leader return home and expressed hope that his return would usher in a period of renewed hope and reconciliation for the country.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, similarly said sustained engagements involving ECOWAS, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders contributed to resolving the issues that had led to Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria.
She described Koroma’s conduct during the period as one marked by restraint, statesmanship and commitment to a peaceful resolution.
Koroma’s return marks the end of his more than two-year stay in Nigeria and represents a significant development in Sierra Leone’s efforts towards political reconciliation and national cohesion.
The former president is expected to reunite with his family and continue his involvement in the country’s political and national affairs following the resolution of the long-running legal case.
