Today, January 17th 2024, the Sierra Leone supreme court have granted request made by the former president Ernest Bai Koroma to be allowed to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment. The decision came after weeks of diplomatic maneuvering between ECOWAS and the government of Sierra Leone to allow the former president to go into exile in Nigeria.
Former president Ernest Bai Koroma was charged to court for treason in a failed coup that took place on January 26th 2023.
There has be growing tension between the opposition party APC, which Mr. Koroma was the chairman and leader. President Maada Bio had accused the former president of interfering into the election process and threatened to deal with him.
Meanwhile, the decision to allow former president to go on exile or medical treatment in Nigeria has created a big backlash within the ruling SLPP party. A lot of SLPP supporters are disappointed with this decision, accusing president Bio of sellout.