Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma left Nigeria to return home after government dropped all treason charges against him.
The former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has officially left Nigeria and is flying back to his home country.
The elder statesman departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Saturday, September 5, 2026, after staying in Nigeria for over two years. His departure happened after the government of Sierra Leone decided to drop all legal cases against him.
High ranking government officials, diplomatic leaders, and security personnel gathered at the airport tarmac to bid him farewell as he boarded his flight. His return brings to a calm end a long period of political worry across West Africa.
The main reason why former President Koroma lived in Nigeria for more than two years was because of legal trouble in his home country.
Back in January 2024, the government of Sierra Leone accused him of treason and other serious offenses after some armed men tried to overthrow the sitting government in November 2023.
To prevent violent fighting and protect peace across the region, regional leaders under the Economic Community of West African States helped arrange for him to come to Nigeria temporarily.
The legal authorities in Sierra Leone recently dropped all court charges against him on health grounds and to promote peace among the people.
With no single court case remaining against him, the former leader is now free to live in his home country without fear of arrest.
The official announcement confirming his return was delivered directly to local community leaders and residents in Sierra Leone before his flight landed.
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Explaining the final peace move during an address to local leaders in Sierra Leone, the Vice President shared the government decision. Informing the public about the former leader’s travel back home, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh stated that “in the spirit of peace and national cohesion, the former president Dr Ernest Bai Koroma will return to the country this weekend”.
Highlighting how regional peace agreements helped clear the political problem, official records confirmed that the government stopped all legal actions.
Confirming the peace arrangement between both nations, regional leaders noted that “the government of Sierra Leone will discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him”. Former President Koroma will now enjoy all his full retirement benefits as a respected former head of state.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
