By Mahamood Fofana
The Government of Sierra Leone has officially discontinued the criminal proceedings against former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, bringing an end to the high profile case that had been before the courts.
In a public notice dated 14 July 2026, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced that Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. had filed a notice of discontinuance pursuant to Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
According to the notice, the decision was made in the exercise of the Attorney General’s statutory powers under the laws of Sierra Leone.
Dr. Koroma had been facing charges of treason and misprision of treason following the failed November 2023 coup attempt. He was later granted permission to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment under bail conditions.
With the filing of the notice of discontinuance, the Attorney General confirmed that the matter is no longer before the court, and the former President’s bail has automatically ceased to have effect.
The government further stated that Dr. Koroma is now at liberty to return to Sierra Leone upon the completion of his medical treatment or at any time he chooses.
The decision marks a significant turning point in one of Sierra Leone’s most closely watched legal and political cases, which has drawn widespread national and international attention.
While confirming the discontinuance of the proceedings, the Attorney General’s Office did not provide further reasons for ending the prosecution beyond citing its legal authority under the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
The development is expected to spark debate among political actors, legal practitioners and the public, given the case’s significance to issues of justice, governance and national reconciliation in Sierra Leone.
