News & Announcements

It was a tragedy in Nigeria’s South/South region of Cross River State as more than twelve people travelling for a funeral was killed in a ghastly auto-crash along the ever-busy Calabar-Ikom Highway.

Meanwhile, two other people are said to be critically injured in the accident.The accident, which involved a white-coloured Hiace bus number plates EDA28XA, according to an online account, occurred around 10 a.m on Thursday, September 24, along the Calabar-Ikom Highway in Mbarakom Community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
According to an eyewitness, the crash was caused by brake failure while the vehicle was on high speed. Another witness, Albert Asuquo, who helped in the rescue operation, said that the injured passengers were taken to the General Hospital in Akamkpa alongside the corpses.

A neighbour of some of the deceased persons who gave his name as Mr Effiong said they were in a chartered bus going to a burial of another neighbour who passed away.
“I know some of them very well, they are my neighbours and we stay in the same yard. 
“Someone in the area died and they were going for the burial. It was a chartered vehicle for the burial. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

In what is obviously heeding the call from ECOWAS for relative democratic order to be restored in the country, Ba N’Daou, Mali’s former Defence Minister, has been sworn in as President of the transition government.
Colonel Assimi Goita was sworn in as Vice President.
Goita heads the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18.

The emergence of N’Daou and Goita was announced on Monday but they were sworn in on Friday.
They will lead Mali until the election of a new administration.
Meanwhile, former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, was in attendance.
“Today, we witnessed the swearing-in of His Excellency Mr. Ba N’Daou and Colonel Assimi Goita as President and Vice President of Mali’s Transition Government.
“The #Ecowas mediation team congratulates these new Malian leaders and wishes them success”, he tweeted.
Recall that the regional body, ECOWAS, had imposed border closure against the country.
The sanctions which included the suspension of financial flows are expected to be lifted with civilian leadership now in place.

The International football game between the Black Stars of Ghana and Equatorial Guinea has been called off.

Ghana was scheduled to play the Central Africans on Monday, October 12, in one of two friendlies lined up for the team in next month’s FIFA International window (except for European Countries).

The Equatorial Guinean Football Association informed the GFA of the latest decision late Thursday, citing new travel restrictions imposed in their country. 

Equatorial Guinea’s borders are closed, and flights are suspended due to new COVID-19 rules.

The GFA has immediately set in motion an alternative plan to secure another match for the team as the Coaches prepare for the upcoming AFCON qualifier against Sudan in November.

Following the report of the Sierra Leone Government’s white paper to the recommendations of the Justice Biobele-led Commission of Inquiry into the management of state affairs by the previous APC government of President Koroma, which found that hundreds of millions of dollars had been stolen or unaccounted for, the government, as reported by the Sierra Leone Telegraph, has responded.

The response is to the recommendations of the Justice William Annan Atuguba-led Commission of Inquiry which looked at the acquisition of personal wealth and assets by former ministers and other state officials. 

Below is the punitive recommendations of the Justice Atuguba-led Commission of Inquiry:

1. The SLPP New Direction Government in its commitment and desire to eradicate corruption, mismanagement, and indiscipline in the affairs of government, as well as the recovery of all State assets and properties acquired through unexplained wealth and unjust enrichment, by Constitutional Instrument No. 67 of 2018 published in the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXLIX, No. 76 dated 27th September 2018, instituted the Commission of Inquiry (Examination, Inquiry, and Investigation) Notice (3), 2018 with Hon. Mr. Justice William Annan Atuguba as Chairman and Sole Commissioner in order to:-

a) examine the assets and other related matters in respect of-

(i) persons who were President, Vice President, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers; and

(ii) Heads and Chairmen of Boards of Parastatals, Departments and Agencies within the period from November 2007 to April 2018

b) Inquire into and investigate whether assets were acquired lawfully or unlawfully;

c) inquire into-

(i) persons who were President, Vice President, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers; and

(ii) Heads and Chairmen of Boards of Parastatals, Departments and Agencies;

d) ascertain as to whether the persons referred to in subparagraphs (a) to (c) –

(i) maintained a standard of life above that which was commensurate to their official emoluments;

(ii) owned or were in control of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to their official emoluments or there are evidence of corruption, dishonesty or abuse of office for private benefit by them;

(iii) collaborated with any person in respect of such corruption, dishonesty or abuse of office;

(iv) acted willfully or complacently in such a manner so as to cause financial loss or damage to the government, local authority or parastatal including a public corporation;

(v) acquired directly or indirectly financial or material gains fraudulently, improperly or wilfully to the detriment of the government, local authority or a parastatal including a public corporation, statutory Commission, body or any university

e) to inquire into and investigate any persons or matters as may from time to time referred to the Commission by his Excellency the President.

2. The Commission has submitted its Report on the assets and other related matters in respect of persons who were President, Vice Presidents, Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers; and Heads and Chairmen of Boards of Parastatals, Departments and Agencies within the period from November 2007 to April 2018 and Government has since reviewed the Report and recommendations therein.

3. Government wishes to reiterate its commitment in the fight against corruption and public malfeasance as well as restoring decency, accountability, transparency and good government in the administration of our country.

4. Accordingly, it is hoped that public officers would learn from the findings of the Commissions of Inquiry.

Assets Investigations: Unexplained Wealth and Unjust Enrichment by Public Officials between November 2007 and April 2018

1. Sylvester Earl Osmond Hanciles, Former Deputy Minister of (a) Energy, (b) Education, Science and Technology and (c) Transport and Aviation, between 21/3/2009 – May 2018.

Government accepts this recommendation:

The Commission found that “that this Person of Interest did not dishonestly acquire any assets or live a lifestyle beyond his legitimate means during his tenure of office.”

2. Ahmed Bakarr Kamara, Former Managing Director, Commerce and Mortgage Bank 17/2/17 – 20/8/2019

Government rejects this recommendation. Government directs the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the assets of Ahmed Bakarr Kamara, and particularly unexplained wealth and unjust enrichment.

The Commission found that this Person of Interest “received huge payments of money in connection with the Commerce and Bank investments in land properties, and this has been dealt with under that part of this Report relating to that matter.”

3. Abdul Aziz Kamara, Former Director-General of Sierra Leone Roads Authority

Government notes that “his total emoluments during his tenure as Le165,807,000.00. This figure, if right, is difficult to reconcile with the statement of his emoluments”. That “since all his financial energies were sapped by the construction of the house at [No. 19 Old Aberdeen Road, Lumley], he had no residue of honest sources from which to acquire the house situate at 21 Old Aberdeen Road, Lumley Freetown.”

Government accepts these recommendations:

In the circumstances I recommend that the other assets of this Person of Interest be scrutinized by another public authority, such as the Anti-Corruption Commission which is not jurisdictionally fettered like this Commission. The evidence regarding his assets as contained in his Exit Declaration Form, exhibit BJ7 contrasts with that on his other Assets Declaration Forms which have been tendered in evidence before this Commission namely exhibits 8 to 10.

However, for the reasons already given above, the house covered by exhibit BJ6, aforementioned was dishonestly acquired by this Person of Interest and should therefore be confiscated and vested in the State.

4. Dr. Matthew M. Teambo, Former Minister of Labour and Social Security

The Commission perused his assets declaration forms and found nothing questionable. The Commission also “examined his salary details which can amply justify his acquisition of the properties referred to above.”
Government accepts this recommendation:

I find nothing dishonest in the affairs of this Person of Interest during his tenure as Minister of Labour.

5. Leonard Balogun Koroma, Former Minister of State in the Office of the Vice- President, November 2007 to November 2009 and Minister of Transport and Aviation, June 2013 to April 2018

The Commission found that this Person of Interest said that he used the US$200,000 derived from the sale of his property at No. 154D Wilkinson Road in 2012 to develop his property at Takoradi Corner, Yengema, Kono, but his affidavit of 8th November 2019 says that he constructed the said property from 2008 to 2015. What the Commission found perplexing is: “How could the proceeds of the sale in 2012 be used for the cost of construction over the years that preceded 2012 namely 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?”

In addition, he deposed in an affidavit that one AM Bocakarie owns the house at Gbangbayilla, Hill Station from whom he intended buying it and had a site plan and building permit issued in his name. However, he abandoned his intent to purchase it on realizing that the said A.M. Bockarie was a lessee and not the owner of the said house. Strangely, he declared this house in his Assets Declaration Form dated 26th October 2017.

The Commission notes that “if he had indeed abandoned this property because the owner thereof was a lessee, how did he erect a flat on it since he says that he only had a site plan and building permit issued in his name at the time that he allegedly abandoned it?”

Government accepts the following recommendations:

From the above analysis I find that this Person of Interest dishonestly acquired the house and land situate at Alshek Drive, Gbangbayilla, Hill Station, Freetown see exhibit BH3 and the house and land at Takoradi Corner, Yengema, Kono and should be confiscated and vested in the State.

As to his pecuniary assets, time will not allow this Commission to adequately scrutinize them and same should be dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Plots of Land

This Person of Interest deposed that during his tenure as a Minister he and his wife purchased an empty plot of land at Lungi which is undeveloped, lease of an empty plot of land at Tokeh, Western Rural District, and a lease of an empty plot of land at Regent, Western Urban District.

Vehicles

The Commission found that this Person of Interest owned 7 private and 1 commercial vehicle. However, this Person of Interest denied having that number of vehicles in his affidavit of 8th November 2019, stressing that he only owned a grey Toyota Sequoia, a white Jeep Cherokee, and a Ford Explorer 2004.

Government accepts this recommendation:

As to his vehicle ownership of which he has denied they should also be confiscated and vested in the State.

Bank Accounts

Inspector Brima Koroma tendered in evidence the Person of Interest’s bank statements from Commerce and Mortgage Bank, Sierra Leone Plc, exhibit BH7 and Guarantee Trust Bank, Sierra Leone exhibit BH8.

Government accepts this recommendation:

Time constraints, aforesaid require that his other assets referred to above be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

6. Mohammed King Koroma, Former Statistician-General 4th November 2012-30th June 2017

The Commission found that this Person of Interest has a two-story building in Freetown and 3 one-flat unfinished dwelling structures at New Port Loko-Rogbere Junction Highway, Magbelelol Village, Maforki Chiefdom, in the Port Loko District. The Commission notes that his total earnings as Statistician-General is Le1,512,000,000. However, before that, he was a teacher from 1980-1984 from which he earned a total of Le150,000,000.

His acquisition of the two sets of properties commenced only during his tenure as Statistician-General. He expended Le2,100,000,000 on the property at New Port Loko-Rogbere Junction Highway, Magbelelol Village, Maforki Chiefdom, in the Port Loko District. Even accepting his own evidence that he spent Le250,000.000 to acquire the property in Freetown, “the acquisition of these properties far exceeded his legitimate income, excluding the purchase price disclosed in respect of the property at New Port Loko-Rogbere Junction Highway”.

It is noted that beyond the conveyance in respect of the land at New Port Loko-Rogbere Junction Highway, there is no evidence from the Person of Interest showing the sources of his private income.

Government accepts this recommendation:

From all the above considerations I find that the two sets of property covered by exhibits BK and BK1 were dishonestly acquired by the Person of Interest while he was the Statistician-General of Sierra Leone and should be confiscated and vested in the State.

7. Allie Kamara, Former Resident Minister for the North, 2007-2018

Government accepts this recommendation:

Since this matter is also before the Anti-Corruption Commission, the actual period and ramifications of BK20 and BK21 can be ascertained thereof. I however find nothing dishonest about his acquisition of his plot of land covered by exhibit BK22 aforementioned. Indeed, the evidence before this Commission is that the investigators could not locate this property.

8. Abdul Kareem Kalokoh, Former Chief Executive Officer of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration, January 2015 to July 2018

The Commission notes that the only property discovered belonging to this Person of Interest is a two-storey house located at Juba Hill, Kalokoh Drive, Freetown and was valued at Le4,985,000,000. The Commission however, found “no grounds to disbelieve his explanation of acquisition of this property even if such acquisition were within his period of tenure as Chief Executive of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration.”

Government accepts this recommendation:

For all the foregoing reasons I find nothing colorable in the tenure of this Person of Interest in so far as his assets are concerned.

9. Olumiyi Robin-Coker, Former Minister of Energy 2012-2014

Government accepts the following recommendations:

Real Property

The only property revealed by the Commission’s investigators as belonging to this Person of Interest is a piece of land he purchased under a deed of Conveyance, exhibit BJ4 from Ernest A. Webber, dated the 5th day of May 2014, at the cost of Le20,000,000. This however raises no issue of accountability since, as per the statement of his salaries as Minister he earned a net amount of Le375,157,991.00, exhibit BJ18.

Pecuniary Property

A Financial Intelligence Unit Report, exhibit BJ15 and his bank statement from Guaranty Trust Bank exhibit BJ17 were tendered in evidence. Whilst some of the transaction stated in exhibit BJ15 may fall within the Person of Interest’s tenure as a Minister, they are stated in lumped up figures thereby rendering scrutiny thereof by this Commission difficult. Exhibit BJ15 however involves 4 different bank accounts belonging to this Person of Interest and can be of interest to the Anti-Corruption Commission. Exhibit BJ17 however does not raise eyebrows but can be of interest to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

I stress that investigations into the Assets of Persons of Interest were commenced before this Commission at the tail end of this Commissions sittings and therefore could not be gone into in details as regards certain matters specified in this Report.
10. Victor Bockarie Foh, Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone 19th March 2015 – April 2018

The Commission notes that this Person of Interest was Vice President for the short period from 19th March 2015 to April 2018. The Commission found it difficult to ascertain the evidence the amounts of money spent on some of the properties he constructed which commenced prior to his appointment as Vice President and completed after his assumption of office. Further, matching the purchase prices disclosed by the evidence, with what he earned in total, “it cannot be said that they were not within his means.”

Government rejects this recommendation. Government directs the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the assets of Victor Bockarie Foh, Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, and particularly unexplained wealth and unjust enrichment. I make no adverse findings of dishonestly against this Person of Interest concerning his real properties.

With regard to his moveable properties, the time frame of this Commission will not enable me to deal with the same. The same may be taken up by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

11. Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, Former Minister of Works and Public Assets. Minister of Political and Public Affairs and Minister of Transport and Aviation between 2007- 2018

The Commission found that the Person of Interest has the following properties: a house at Bintumani Ring Road, Aberdeen, Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, valued at Le29,900,000,000; a house at 19 Wharf Road, Port Loko in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone valued at Le6,040,000,000 and another house (a hotel) in Port Loko.

However, the Commission found that his net salaries Le1,276,640,610 for the period 2007-2018, cannot warrant the acquisition of these properties by him (even though one of them was acquired for his daughter Zauda K. Sesay). Therefore, the acquisitions are “wholly unexplained and unaccounted for” and must therefore have been dishonestly acquired.

Government accepts the following recommendations:

From all the analysis above I find that the house at Bintumani Ring Road, Aberdeen Freetown, and the house at 19 Wharf Road, Port Loko were dishonestly acquired by this Person of Interest during his terms of office as Minister between the years 2007-2018 and should be confiscated and vested in the state.

The total of his net salaries Le1,276,640,610 for the period 2007-2018, as per exhibit BH 17 cannot warrant the acquisition of these properties by him (even though one of them was acquired for his daughter Zauda K. Sesay, aforesaid).

Pecuniary Assets

The Financial Intelligence Unit of Sierra Leone has submitted an Intelligence Report on the bank accounts of this Person of Interest, exhibit BH21. His bank accounts stand as follows:

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK SIERRA LEONE 1. USD account No. 8700101335100

Total credit details for the period 05/07/17 – 28/08/17 – USD168,350.00

2. SIERRA LEONE COMMERCIAL BANK SIERRA LEONE LTD USD account No. 003001106006410142

Total credit deposits between 30/08/17 – 04/09/19 = USD 12,200

3. SIERRA LEONE COMMERCIAL BANK SL LTD Leone account No. 003001106006100110

Total non-salary deposits between 27/01/16 – 29/09/17 = Le634,820,000.00

4. ZENITH BANK SL LTD. Leone account No: 6020162079

Total credits between 22/09/2016 – 31/03/2017 = Le905,850,000.00 Leone account No. 4110143241

Total credits between 23/09/2016 – 31/12/2018 = Le85,044,328.30 USD ACCOUNT No. 4070122834

Total credits between 22/09/2016 – 13/03/2017 = USD 11,800

5. FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK (SL) LTD. Leone account No. 21412-02

Total credits between 31/07/2009 – 30/09/2017 = Le2,109,927.66 Leone account No. 21412-01

Total credits between 31/07/2009 – 30/09/2017 = Le1,425,000.00

6. COMMERCE AND MORTGAGE BANK Leone account No. 21010091028

Total credits between 14/10/2009 – 01/06/2019 = Le1,448.597,118.77 USD account No. 21010092016

Total credits between 14/10/2009 – 01/06/2019 = USD60,000.00

It is quite apparent that this Person of Interest had multiple bank accounts during his Ministerial tenure between 2007-2018, some were USD accounts while others are Leone accounts, all with heavy deposits from undisclosed or unjustifiable sources.

However, this Commission is of the view that though heavy sums of money can be recovered from this Person of Interest, the best course to take in fairness to both the State and the Person of Interest is for the Audit Service to conduct a thorough audit into the bank accounts of this Person of Interest as revealed by the Financial Intelligence Report, exhibit BH21 in order to ascertain the sums of money that should be recovered from him for the State.

This is because exhibit BH21 is in 2 parts, (a) A report on the financial position of this Person of interest submitted to the office of the Attorney General dated 13th February 2019 and one submitted to this Commission dated 11th July 2019. These two reports need to be reconciled.

Even in the report submitted to this Commission a sudden mention is made to Rokel Commercial Bank SL Ltd whereas it was not cited as one of the banks covered by this report.

Vehicles

In the exhibit, BH16 headed POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS AND NUMBER OF VEHICLES this person of Interest is listed as having 2 private vehicles and 1 commercial vehicle. No explanation as to their acquisition is forthcoming from this Person of Interest, they should therefore be confiscated and vested in the State.

A gas tanker has caused a big explosion at Balogun Bus Stop in Iju Ishaga, very close to Harmony Estate and Obawole, both in the Ogba area of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State.

Due to the effect of the explosion which caused a huge fire, residents of the area, which serves as the border community between Lagos and Ogun states, caused residents to scamper for safety.  

The loud bang, which many residents reported across social media platforms were as a result of a gas tanker about to enter a newly built plant in a residential neighborhood.

A lawyer, Fisayo Eluyare, who was among those who raised the alarm said the explosion nearly brought down his house.

He wrote: “Gas explosion nearly brought my house down! The explosion didn’t even happen very close to my house but it shook the whole house and almost shattered my windows.

“The light from the explosion came very close to my building. Thank you God o.”

Other residents appealed for emergency responders to be alerted as to the fire, they claimed, was already entering nearby homes.

Contacted, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, urging residents to stay away from the area.

NEMA’s southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye told The nation that the agency’s officials were on the ground and fire service has been contacted.

He said: “Yes, a tanker exploded at Balogun Bus stop, Iju Ishaga. Our people are already there and fire service has been informed.

“The tanker was trying to enter a gas plant when it exploded. There were domestic cylinders there and so, those also started exploding.

“The fire has not extended to any building. It is still within the gas plant. People sustained burn injuries but no deaths were reported yet. We have contacted the fire service. We appeal to people to stay away from the area,” he said.

The North African countries of Algeria and Tunisia have agreed to co-ordinate their efforts as they seek to clamp down on terrorism and organised crime, reduce smuggling, and combat illegal immigration.

According to a report by Chinese-run state news agency Xinhua, Tunisian Defence Minister Ibrahim Bartagi made the remarks during a visit to the 16th Infantry Regiment in the city of Ain Draham in Jendouba province, north-western Tunisia.

Last month, addressing the UN Security Council’s high-level open debate, Salma Neifer, acting foreign minister of Tunisia, said terrorism and organised crime threatened international security and peace.

Earlier this month, one police officer was killed and another wounded in a knife attack in the Tunisian coastal resort city of Sousse.

According to a BBC report, three assailants were shot dead after the incident, which was described as a terrorist attack.

Head of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH) Jamel Messalem said the attack coincided with the new government assuming its duties, citing that the new interior minister was in the city, which affirmed that the attack was planned, reported Arabic international newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

Messalem further pointed out that the terrorists took advantage of the political tension in the country and the pro-extremism rhetoric to plan the attack and to confuse the new government.

In 2015, Sousse was the scene of one of Tunisia’s worst attacks in which 38 people, most of them British tourists, were killed by a gunman.

Tunisia’s defence minister said the country aimed to co-ordinate its efforts with Algeria by exchanging information and holding periodic meetings on tightening control of the Tunisian-Algerian land borders, reports Xinhua.

Around 20 000 people protested in Thailand’s capital on Saturday against the government of former coup leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, with many demonstrators also calling for reforms to the monarchy.

“Down with feudalism, long live the people,” was one of the chants at the biggest demonstration in Bangkok since Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup.

Protests have been building in the southeast Asian country since mid-July, demanding the removal of the government, a new constitution, and elections. They have also broken a long-standing taboo by criticizing the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Saturday’s protests moved from the campus of Thammasat University, a traditional hotbed of opposition to the military and royalist establishment, on to Sanam Luang – translated as Royal Field – outside the Grand Palace.

“I hope the people in power will see the importance of the people,” student leader Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, told the crowd. “We are fighting to put the monarchy in the right place, not to abolish it.”

Organizers said there were 50,000 people present in the latest demonstration. Police said there were at least 18,000, still enough to make it bigger than a protest last month. Protesters have said they plan to stay overnight and march to Government House on Sunday morning.

The king was not in Thailand and has spent much of his time in Europe since taking the throne from his late father in 2016. The Royal Palace was not available for comment on the protests.

“People can protest but they should do that peacefully and within the law,” said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

Meanwhile, September 19 is the anniversary of the coup against the populist then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006. Among the protesters were many of his redshirt followers, veterans of clashes a decade ago with pro-establishment yellow shirts.

“I’m here to fight for the future of my children and grandchildren. I hope that by the time I die, they will become free,” said 68-year-old Tasawan Suebthai, a redshirt with amulets around her neck which she hoped would ward off bullets.

So far the latest protests have been peaceful.

The military, which proclaims itself the defender of the monarchy and national stability, has carried out several bloody crackdowns on protesters since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 as well as 13 successful coups.

Prayuth has said the government would allow protests but that demands for reform of the monarchy were not acceptable.

A 20-year-old student, who gave her name only as Waan for fear of reprisals, said it was time to reform the monarchy. “It’s a problem that’s been swept under the rug for so long. This must end right here.”

Protesters demand the scrapping of a lese majeste law against criticism of the monarchy. They also seek to reduce the king’s constitutional powers and his control over the palace fortune and units of the army.

The last time such a large crowd assembled at Sanam Luang was in mourning for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was widely revered in the country of 70 million.

There were also sympathy protests in Taipei and Tokyo while others were planned in Europe and North America.

A soldier fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East has reportedly killed himself.

According to TheCable, the soldier, a lance corporal attached to the Nigerian  Army 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, committed suicide on Thursday at his duty post. 

“He shot himself in the head and died immediately before other soldiers could even rush to help,” a military source told the newspaper.

The soldier was also said to have left a note for his wife. 

His body has been evacuated and sources said an investigation into what led to the incident was in progress.

Recall that in July, a soldier in the army’s 202 Battalion in Bama, Borno State, killed a lieutenant, who did not give him a pass to visit his family. 

In 2019, a soldier hanged himself in Abuja.

Also in 2017, another soldier committed suicide after killing his superior.

Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood movie about Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, may face 25 years to life in prison if convicted of various offences, the prosecution said.

Rusesabagina, who once called for armed resistance to the government in a YouTube video, was charged in a Kigali court on Monday with 13 counts including terrorism, complicity in murder and forming or joining an irregular armed group.

“For some of the crimes, he may face 25 years, and some even go up to life imprisonment,” Faustin Nkusi, spokesman of Rwanda’s prosecution authority, told Reuters on phone.

Rusesabagina declined to respond to all the charges on Monday, saying he wanted to take a plea to each individual count. The court will rule on bail on Thursday.

His case has thrust a spotlight on to President Paul Kagame’s government, which stands accused by rights groups of stifling dissent.

Nkusi rejected the criticism, saying the prosecution will guarantee that he gets a fair trial.

“This is not a political case… you cannot exercise your freedom of expression and political rights by killing people, by looting their property, by taking hostages,” he said.

Rusesabagina’s family has called for an international trial. They have also accused the government of denying him the legal representation of his choice.

Nkusi said Rusesabagina had chosen the two lawyers who represented him in court on Monday, adding that he is allowed to talk to his wife and children, who live in the United States.

His family has also accused the Rwandan government of kidnapping him from Dubai, where he was on a trip, a claim that officials in Kigali also reject.

“He was arrested on the soil of Rwanda, at Kigali International Airport. That’s the only information I can give. I don’t know how he came but he got found on the territory of Rwanda and then he got arrested,” Nkusi said.

The Oscar-nominated film “Hotel Rwanda” portrayed Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager, using his connections with the Hutu elite to protect Tutsis fleeing the slaughter.

Some in Rwanda, including Kagame, have accused Rusesabagina of exaggerating his heroism, which he denies.

After the genocide, Rusesabagina acquired Belgian citizenship and became a resident of the United States. He became a vocal critic of Kagame, whom he accused of stifling opposition, an accusation the government denies.

It has been revealed right now that the Savage Bridge that links the West of Freetown to the Central part of the city has collapsed, leaving the residents stranded.
The bridge carved in after a heavy downpour within the area.The tragedy has resorted to some residents requesting  authorities to review similar  infrastructures within the city, such as the Aberdeen Bridge, which according to sources is over 35 years old without any form of maintenance. 
The present scenario calls for immediate concern from the government as it poses danger for inhabitants of the community and the general citizens because the damaged bridge serve as a major gateway to main parts of the city.