Corruption Undermines Social Development and Stymied Inclusive Economic Growth

The White Papers

By Theo Edwards

Sierra Leone President: We Cannot Be This Corrupt. "We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has said an investigation into allegations of corruption into the administration of his predecessor, President Ernest Bai Koroma, will lead to a large amount of property being confiscated and stolen money being returned to the state.

President Maada Bio said the commission of inquiry, led by foreign judges, was a major breakthrough that would help make corruption unfashionable and risky.

"We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown.

A lawyer for Mr. Koroma's opposition APC party has dismissed the allegations and said the party would challenge the findings in court.

Listen: Sierra Leone President Maada Bio on corruption

Source: BBC

---

A country that is desperately poor despite its wealth of natural resources would guarantee a decent standard of life for every one of its 7.5 million citizens.

President Julius Maada Bio, on Thursday, September 24, 2020, received the reports of the Commissions of Inquiry and the White Papers and has assured the Government will fully implement the recommendations therein.

The Government has carefully looked at the reports of the Commissions and the recommendations. The White Paper document recommendations Government has accepted in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Unlike other Commissions, the president assured the citizens that his administration would fully implement all recommendations.

In a press briefing, he publicly instructed the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to effect the recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry. “Recover all monies recommended to be returned to the people of Sierra Leone and to confiscate all assets recommended, and all other such penalties as recommended.”

He, however, emphasized respect for the rule of law, adding that: Persons and entities affected by the recommendation are guaranteed a peaceful and transparent judicial appeals process through which they can seek relief.

Summary of Justice Biobele Commission of inquiries reports presentation

The White Papers

223 Billions of Leones where Misappropriated by persons of interest ($94 Million) investigated by Justice Biobele.

126 person of interest investigated in his commission

84 indicted by Justice Biobele, they include:

1 indicted former President of Sierra Leone ( Ernest Bai Koroma)

13 indicted Former Minister

6 indicted Deputy former minister

1 indicted CEO of National Ebola Response Center

1 indicted former secretary to the former President

2 indicted former Governor of the bank of Sierra Leone

1 indicted former chairman of National Commission for Privatisation

3 indicted Member of Parliament

10 Permanent Secretary

1 former coordinating officer of the National Election Commission

1 former head of case management Team at the Ebola operation Center

2 former Director-General

1 former CEO of Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency

1 former Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank

5 of the former Director of youth projects where indicated

3 heads of Musical groups in Sierra Leone. (Kolabo and others to refund money giving to them to the Government of Sierra Leone)

26 Person of interest where discharged

5 former Minister where discharged

10 former deputy minister where discharged

2 Permanent Secretary where discharged

9 other persons of interest were discharged including (a ) Kawsu Kebbie; (b) Chief Sadiq Kapuwa; (c ) Ibrahim Swarry of NPPA

The most guilty of all indicted was Limkokwing University, which was not in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Everything about its formation is corrupt

17 person of Interest on asset declaration where investigated by Justice Biobel they are:

(1) Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi

(2 ) Miatta Kargbo

(3) Ibrahim Washinga Mansaray

(4 ) Abdul Linoux Koroma

(5 ) Minkalu Mansaray

(6) Ahmed Kanu

(7 ) Alimamy Kamara

(8 ) Mabinty Daramy

(9 ) Bai Mahmoud Bangura

(10 ) Alfred Paolo Conteh

(11) Dr. Minkalu Bah

(12) Alimamy P. Koroma

(13) Mahmoud Tarawalli

(14 ) Dr. Richard Conteh

(15) Franklin Bai Kargbo

(16) Sulata Cooper

(17 ) Raymond Saidu Kargbo

14 of the asset of persons of interest of unexplained wealth where indicted

3 Person of interest asset discharged

All persons indicted who failed to declare their asset should serve an imprisonment of Six Months or pay 30 Million Leones… differential from the money they should refund

All persons of interest who declare their assets only once or twice have also been found guilty, but been discharged ( at least they try) said the Justice Biobele.

All property own by persons of interest that is within there earning are discharged

All accounts owned by persons of interest within there earning are discharged and giving access to them

All property acquired by persons of interest indicted with funds beyond there means of income, are products of unlawful and unjust enrichment, hence, their property would be forfeited to the Government and people of Sierra Leone

All forfeited property should be sold to any interested person in Sierra Leone at a fair value, and the money should be remitted immediately to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Government of Sierra Leone

All funds in the bank account of persons indicted that's beyond there mean of earning must be forfeited to the Government of Sierra Leone, within 30 days from the date the recommendation is ratified

In the event anybody fails to return or repay the money Government shall use all law within its powers to confiscate all money own by that individual, either money in a bank account, or property moveable or immoveable including houses, vehicles, stocks belong to persons of interest, with the purpose of selling it, in order to pay the amount belonging to the people of Sierra Leone

All persons of interest that failed to attend the hearing of the Commission of Inquiries are thereby indicted and ban 5 years for holding public office

All persons of interest who are banned from holding public office, after there ban expired should write an apology letter to the people of Sierra Leone openly and publish in the various news-papers, and copy the justice department for its records

It is my hope that the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of H.E President Julius Maada Bio would recover all stolen money and property and return to the people of Sierra Leone

And these recommendations would serve as a reminder to all present Government Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Director-General, Permanent Secretary that corruption has no place in Sierra Leone any more and they should work purely for the benefit and interest of the people of Sierra Leone

The most guilty of all indicted was Limkokwing University, which was not in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Everything about its formation is corrupt

View fullsize

Examination of the Assets of Named Persons of Interest

Properties at Femi Turner, Goderich, and at Robureh, Makeni owned by former President Ernest Bai Koroma are to be confiscated as recommended by the Government White Papers on the Commissions of Inquiry. President Bio has instructed the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to effect the recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry and confiscate all assets as recommended and recover all monies to be returned to the people of Sierra Leone.

---