TWO SIGNIFICANT SLPP PARTY MEMBERS RESIGN.

SLPP IN A CONFUSED STATE- DOMBOLO MIX-UP

Thanks to AWARENESS TIMES- Freetown Sierra Leone for this piece of news. [ Photo from Cokorioko

Two Significant Western Area Indigenes Resign from SLPP (One Country; One People slogan under Threat) :Josephine Mac-Thompson & John Ernest Leigh say goodbye By Dec 16, 2011, 17:16

Two Significant Western Area Indigenes Resign from SLPP (One Country; One People slogan under Threat)
Josephine Mac-Thompson & John Ernest Leigh say goodbye

December 15, 2011

Mr. Sulaiman Tejan-Sie

Secretary-General

Sierra Leone People's Party

Wallace-Johnson Street

Freetown

Dear Sir:

After much careful thought and deep soul-searching over time, I have concluded that I must exit the party that I have genuinely long labored to promote and modernize against impossible odds.

In deciding to resign my party membership, I have categorically rejected any and all advice and recommendations from deeply loyal party friends I respect and who repeatedly pleaded with me to stay put.

Clearly, while many fine personalities continue as loyal, hard working party members nationwide and abroad, someone with my background, experience and upbringing cannot belong to a political party fronted by ex-junta personalities and under the sordid influence of those I personally know as nation-wreckers, money-grubbing lying rogues, false pretenders for money and such-like characters; not to mention the widespread acceptance in secret and off-camera of voodoo juju-swear ceremonies as part and parcel of the party's unofficial 'democratic' process in selecting its leadership.

Accordingly, please enter my resignation, effective today, from my membership of the Sierra Leone People's Party as well as any patron or committee positions that may have been assigned me.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Sincerely,

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John E. Leigh

cc:

Mr. John O. Benjamin, SLPP Chairman

Dr. Alieu Massaquoi, Acting Secretary-General, SLPP New England, USA Chapter

Mr. Murtada Tunis, Secretary-General, SLPPNA

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“I wept because that was the greatest ungratefulness I have ever heard!”- Josephine E. Mac-Thompson (December 2011)

THE POST NPRC COUP: THE HYPOCRICY OF THE IMF, WORLD BANK EUROPEAN FUND IN PAMPARING THE YOUNG COUP MAKERS IN 1992. SO WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?

FLASHBACK 2012 POST

Eventually, we begin to know where all the monies that came into the hands of the NPRC post 1992 COUP went.. The IMF, WORLD BANK, EUROPEAN FUND  and such like International funding bodies were in 'post haste' in releasing large amounts of monies to the Military Government of Captain Strasser and his "PIKIN SOJAS", when they overthrew the legitimate government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh. I recall even a $50, million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) facility, which had been approved during President Siaka Stevens time in 1983 or thereabout, (when Hon Salia Jusu Sherriffe was Finance Mininter,) frozen all that time was also released to them. Equally a Deutsche Mark 70 million by the Germans, for which the City Council was connected..

 The records of all those heavy amounts must now be investigated. These 'boy soldiers' of which Maada Bio became a one time second in command, and men like John Benjamin must account for these funds which were dissipate (FITYFATA) with no trace until now that we begin to see where these monies went.

There was no proper control of these high class financing, and these BORBOR SOLDIERS simply had a free hand to ROB the state with no fear or thought. Yes, they instituted Saturday cleaning of the streets, and engaged in prayer days every now and then. They spent some money in projects like building/ re-furbishing Round Abouts and painted images of some past heroes, here and there and driving up and down in big cars wasting monies on 'bleached skin" girls and showing off.. Now we begin to know and see the PAPER WORK of the slick ways these International Finance bodies developing funds where coveted and hidden in overseas accounts of these TIFF MAN DEM. So what do we do now?
 Looking closely at the document below, provided by Awareness Time Proprietor, Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, the details can clearly be seen of this one transaction - date of transfer, 9 December 1994; from Overseas Trust Bank Limited. This does not look like a Sierra Leone based Bank - perhaps a Hung Kong Bank. The account number at this first leg of the transaction  shows 003101601; The name of the officer semms to be  a Mr FRANK YIU. The Bank reference number as: 60042/60023 530 with Julius Maada Bio's name clearly visible in the document. The amount is stated as: HKD 387,000 (Three hundred and eighty seven thousand Hung Kong Dollars - converted at the rate of 7.7400HKD to US$1( now this was 1992).

QUESTION? WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM ORIGINALLY, THAT WENT INTO THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK? This appears to be a TRANSIT Bank not the initiating Bank.

 The second LEG of the transaction, is a movement from Overseas Trust Bank Limited in Hung Kong to  TSB ( Trustee Savings Bank  (NOW PART OF LLOYDS BANK - and now owned by British Tax Payesrs and British Government):

 The address is clearly seen as TSB Channel  Island Limited, OFFSURE CENTRE, PO BOX No 597, ST. HELIER, JERSEY, JE48 XW.  ACCOUNT NUMBER 503400 - NAME: JULIIUS MAADA BIO. 

Note that this account number is different from the one in the Overseas Trust Bank. These accounts are created to facilitate TAX AVOIDANCE - hence OFFSURE - They are TAX HEAVENS . 

It is clear from this document that the TSB Jersey holds a correspondent account for the Overseas Trust Bank with account number 3101601-  The instuction rom the Hung Kong Bank, to debit their account held at TSB Jersey can be visualise at the bottom of the document with a check box "TICKED"

 On the bottom right side of the document from Overseas Trust Bank Limited marked "Remittance" (at the top right) one can see the words " APPLICANT'S SIGNATURE: followed by the words " "CHAMPION INVESTMENT LIMITED" signed by two 'AUTHORISED SIGNATURES' underneath with the telephone number (I guess Hung Kong's) as 8020163. 
QUESTIONS: WHO ARE CHAMPION INVESTMENT LIMITED? How did they get involved? Were they facilitators or Transfer/transaction Agents? Where did the money come from to end up with them so that they may pass it on through the Banks. What was the FULL value/amount of the funds? How many 'dealers' were involve? What was thier commission in this deal?

 The Government and ANTI CORRUPTION MUST NOW STEP IN. This is only a scratch- the krowkrow go big jes nor. (The wound will soon open wide)

Click Link 
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Sierra Leone Opposition Threatens to Kill Journalists Before Polls: Staunch members of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) have yesterday promised that come November 17th 2012, they will be embarking on a mission to kill journalists they perceive as being against their party. The SLPP members made the threats yesterday whilst molesting two journalists from the Awareness Times who had gone to the party offices to seek clarification from Julius Maada Bio concerning monies alleged to have been stolen from the State and paid into his overseas accounts at the time he was Deputy Head of State in the NPRC military junta. (ONE OF NUMEROUS BANKING DOCUMENTS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF AWARENESS TIMES IS ACCOMPANYING THIS UPDATE)
The Awareness Times had initially fruitlessly tried to contact Mr. Bio on his phone lines but having failed to get him, we got his Personal Assistant John Tucker who said his boss was “tied up” and “busy” but he would find time to speak with him.
Awareness Times then informed Tucker that we were sending two journalists and we dispatched Edward Tommy and cub reporter Mariama Bundu to speak with Mr. Bio.
It was whilst the two journalists were patiently waiting to talk to Mr. Bio that they were pounced upon by supporters of Mr. Bio who accused them of being spies listening to the SLPP secrets. They clearly knew Tommy to be a journalist and when he reminded them that he was waiting to speak with Bio and he was from Awareness Times, they went enraged and ordered Tommy and Mariama to leave the premises. They frog-marched them all the way down the three sets of stairways with one of them even bundling up Tommy’s trousers whilst shouting and threatening them.
They rudely insulted the journalists all the way to their party gates whilst openly making threats that they had certain journalists they would be killing as soon as they won the elections in November.
“We just dey wait for the bell for ring!!” a violent SLPP lady promised as she said they will deal with journalists as soon as the bell is announced that they have won the elections.
Many citizens are fearful that with the growing violence originating from the SLPP during which they do not even spare their members, the Sierra Leone Police needs to be on proper alert and with a good state of mind to avert any pogrom and massacre of citizens especially journalists. Meanwhile, most independent journalists no longer have confidence in the ability of the President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) to protect them from SLPP partisans as he is widely believed to be heavily compromised on the side of the SLPP. Yesterday, the SLAJ Offices were closed and when journalists phoned up Umaru Fofana the president, he said he was too busy attending to a report he was filing for the BBC to attend to SLAJ matters.
It can be recalled that the opposition has made a lot of noise over the Government’s decision to arm the Sierra Leone police after years of the police using obsolete weapons. An arms embargo on the country was lifted in late 2010 which was when the Government started a process to order the weapons to ensure the country’s internal security was well guarded.
“Only criminals and murderers and those planning to undertake very bad things will oppose a country arming its legitimate police force. If the SLPP was not full of criminals and thieves, they would not be fearful of armed policemen,” said Mohamed Bockarie Fofana, a youth activist from Karina, Bombali District. His sentiments are being widely re-echoed all over the country.

INVESTIGATION TRIBUNAL REPORT ON AUDITOR GENERAL AND DEPUTY DEMANDED!

Coalition of Organizations Demands Release of Tribunal Report on Auditor-General Investigation.

On July 30, 2024, a coalition of organizations in Sierra Leone formally requested the full release of the tribunal report concerning the suspended Auditor-General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, and Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Tamba Momoh.

This request was directed to the Secretary to the President and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, invoking the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.

The coalition, which includes prominent groups such as Christian Aid Sierra Leone (CASL), Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Western Area Budget Education Advocacy Network (WABEAN), ActionAid Sierra Leone (AASL), Talking Drum Studio (TDS), and Transparency International Sierra Leone (TISL), underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability. They argue that the public’s right to access information is essential for maintaining trust in government and judicial processes.

These organizations, alongside others like Fifty Fifty Group, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), International Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Citizens’ Barray, and the Eminent Women Peace Mediators-Sierra Leone (EWPM-SL), have called for an expedited and comprehensive response from the government.

The tribunal’s findings, presented to President Julius Maada Bio on June 12, 2024, have already been accepted by him, further intensifying public interest in the details and implications of the report. The coalition asserts that disclosing the report is crucial for upholding democratic principles and ensuring that governance processes are conducted with integrity.

The organizations are urging the Office of the President and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to comply with the Right to Access Information Act by releasing the report. This step is seen as essential for promoting transparency and reinforcing the principles of good governance.

PROFOUND INJUSTICE 

      

Click Link

https://www.thesierraleonetelegraph.com/injustice-uncovered-sierra-leones-auditor-general-silenced-by-government/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR21KotmP7_NsSkHkjglx_uKYbXu7WrTzDZBLU6reCJGsigDV624RXg2XSs_aem_I2T8iu4TMwVJxO-9aODKLA

Click Link.
https://www.facebook.com/1513141875/posts/pfbid0MdaY7LZrib8YYQGHPrroG8f88jByhJkq3ezybHvEBFKHAFhxtCVAMdks3uyMFczql/

SIERRA LEONE @ 63! MANY WATERS UNDER THE BRIDGE: NOSTALGIA APRIL 27/29, 1992. THE LAST HOURS OF PRESIDENT J S MOMOH -

THE BAND THAT BLEW THE PRESIDENT!

THE LAST EVENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH SAIDU

MOMOH ON 27th APRIL 1992; INDEPENDENCE

DAY.  ON 29th APRIL 1992, THE NATIONAL PROVINCIAL REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL, OVERTHROW HIS GOVERNMENT.  BUT THIS IS A RATHER DIFFERENT STORY FROM ALL REPORTS OF THAT INCIDENT, ONE WITH  MUSICAL CONNOTATIONS. 

Yu

WITCH HUNT, POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE SIERRA LEONE CONFUSED COURT OF APPEAL.

*Maada Bio's Hatred and Witch Hunt Directed at Ernest Bai Koroma  Exposed*

IN THE SIERRA RUTILE SAGA: HOW DOES 7.085% SHARES TURN INTO 30%?

Please read on and share everywhere..  

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*Politics, Justice And Former President Koroma: The Facts versus Propaganda*

December 18, 2023 Updated: December 18, 2023 

By Maxwell Cole

This week, the judiciary’s social media accounts announced the dismissal of the seven grounds of appeal presented by former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma against the judge-led Commission of Inquiry. The panel of judges, comprising Hon. Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda, and Hon. Justice Tonia Barnett, unanimously ruled against the appellant, ordering him to jointly and severally refund Le 70,294,264,523; $3,000,000; and $12,263,821. The court mandated that these funds be repaid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund within 30 days.

The matter centers around a loan to the Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) (largely own by the state) sought a government bailout during Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma’s presidency. The bank was in such financial distress that a certain international financial institution advised the Government of President Koroma to sell it off which the president refused to do. Rather, he tasked the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Bank of Sierra Leone to find better ways of salvaging the struggling Rokel Commercial Bank. The then Minister of Finance, Kelfala Marah, and the then Bank Governor, Momodu Kargbo, sought a $12 million loan from the Petroleum Directorate to rescue the Rokel Commercial Bank. With presidential approval, the loan was granted, leading to the government’s increased stake in the bank from 51% to 65%. Subsequently, RCB not only recovered but also initiated repayment of the loan to the government which is ongoing. 

The RCB has since flourished to become a financial ‘power house’ in Sierra Leone, according to media reports. In 2021, RCB reported 88.7 Billion profit. “…the Rokel Commercial Bank has paid over 17 Billion Leones to its majority (Government of Sierra Leone) and minority shareholders as dividend following a pre-tax profit of Le88.7 Billion recorded for 2021. The dividend represents a significant increase from Le10.6 billion (6%) reported for 2020 financial statements.” In 2022, the bank made even more gains posting a remarkable profit of Le94 billion (Old Leones) in its 2022 financial statements. This impressive figure marks a 5.96% increase from the Le88 billion (Old Leones) profit recorded in 2021.

Despite such remarkable turnaround owing to President Koroma’s approval of the loan used to recapitalize RCB, upon his election in 2018, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) leader, President Julius Maada Bio, instituted three Judge -led Commissions of Inquiry, one of which, led by Justice Goodwill Biobele, recommended an investigation into President Koroma, the former Bank Governor, and the ex-Minister of Finance and Head of the National Petroleum Authority (PRA), for their involvement in the loan.

The Bank Governor and Finance Minister appealed these findings, resulting in a different Court of Appeal panel asserting that the funds were not missing, as evidenced by Rokel Bank’s account, and upheld their appeal.

Here is the judges’ reasoning in upholding Kelfala Marah’s appeal:

It is the substance of the evidence of Mr. Charles Babatunde Isaac Sylvester Sesay (CW7) at page 424 to 433 of the records ni vol. 1 that due to the recapitalization to the Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) same have helped to prevent a national economic disaster in that Government which had 51% share ni RCB before recapitalization now has 65.02% of the shares as the bank became one of a going concern and a profitable commercial Bank. Mr. Charles Babatunde Isaac Sylvester Sesay at page 428 ni his evidence ni chief inter alia stated to wit: – “We understand that Rokel Commercial bank was formed ni 1919, the position is walk on the Street of Freetown, watch the TV, the status is that last year we were able to turn the Bank around, we were able to declare a profit after tax of roughly 62 billion Leones”. It is the evidence that without the recapitalization, the 51% that Government had would have dissipated and the Bank would have closed leading a serious economic downturn.” 

The Panel went on to assert that:

“….Hence, on this ground of appeal it is our considered view that although there was blatant breach of the procedure in obtaining the loan leading to the entire process been irregular, what came out clearly having done a review of the evidence before the commissioner is that notwithstanding such irregularity, there was not established any act of abuse of office, misappropriation, maladministration and act of coruption by the Appelant as stated in the finding of the sole commissioner of commission No.64. Rather, the recapitalization has helped to save the collapse of a gigantic institution- the Rokel Commercial Bank – which was considered ‘too big to fail’ and thus became a going concern until now.”

Significantly, the judges made the strong point that:

“…. In the light of the foregoing analysis we hold that it would be a travesty of justice to hold that there was abuse of office, misappropriation, maladministration, and act of corruption by the Appellant. We further hold that although the process of obtaining the loan was irregular, the positive effect of the recapitalization at the end of the day by far outweighs any negative effect same may have caused .” 

The recent panel, led by Justice Bintu Alhadi, diverged from the previous conclusion, stating that former President Koroma misused his presidential powers to order the petroleum sector to bail out Rokel Bank. Consequently, he has been ordered to repay $12 million to the state. Another panel concurrently concluded that the Head of the Petroleum Unit was reckless in granting the loan, mandating a $12 million repayment to the state.

What is noteworthy amid these legal proceedings is that while Rokel Commercial Bank has significantly recuperated as a result of the said loan, recording substantial profit, paying large amounts of dividends to its shareholders – the largest of which is the Government of Sierra Leone – and RCB continues to repay the $12 million to the government. Despite all this progress deriving from former President Koroma’s decision to approve the recapitalizing loan to the then struggling RCB, he and the former head of the Petroleum Authority have each been ordered by another Panel of Judges in the same Court of Appeal to pay the same $12 million to the same Government of Sierra Leone. 

The Court of Appeal’s decision to dismiss the appeal by former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma raises significant questions about political interference in Sierra Leone’s justice sector. The controversial verdict implies a breach of presidential authority in utilizing state resources for a specific bailout, holding him accountable for the $12 million loan to the government own Rokel Bank.

The differing conclusions between panels of the Court of Appeal provide fodder for the former President’s supporters, who argue that the state is determined to target him at any cost. While one panel of the Court of Appeal is not bound by the ruling of another panel, substantial disparities in the judgments warrant scrutiny. When the facts of the loan are apparent, and repayment is underway, questions arise about the presence of corruption and political interference in the handling of the case and the order for the repayment of the full amount.

Maxwell Cole, Sierea Leone Alternate Voice

Politics, Justice And Former President Koroma: The Facts versus Propaganda https://promptnewsonline.com/politics-justice-and-former-president-koroma-the-facts-versus-propaganda/

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AND IN THE SIERRA RUTILE SAGA: HOW DOES 7.085% TURN TO 30%?

*HOW SLPP TEJAN KABBAH AND SOLOMON BEREWA SURRENDERED SIERRA LEONE’s RIGHT IN SIERRA RUTILE COMPANY TO THE PRIVATE COMPANY.*

Below are excerpts from an agreement entered into by late President Kabba and his Attorney General Solomon Berewa to give Sierra Rutile Company all the rights to withhold PAYE Tax in return for shares *UP TO* 30%.

Note the phrase *UP TO*. In other words, the Sierra Leone government had the opportunity to accrue UP TO 30% in exchange for PAYE. 

The shares were calculated every year equivalent to PAYE Tax the company owes to the government.  

Late President Kabba and Solomon Berewa also surrendered the first right of refusal to Sierra Rutile in that, until the company says NO, the government cannot sell its cumulative rights or shares to any other interested party.

Solomon Berewa who was considered a shrewd lawyer acted on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone during the agreement. 

*What the government did under President Ernest Koroma was to adhere to an agreement signed by his predecessor.*

At the time of disposal, Government of Sierra Leone also cumulated up to 7.085% from the PAYE Tax. The $12m paid to government was for the 7.085% interest and not 30% which they never had.

Click Link to see agreement. 

SIERRA RUTILE 30% SAGA

SIERRA RUTILE POLITICO REPORT NO 30%

KANDEH KOLLEH YUMKELLA AGAIN!

FLASHBACK 2017

*Breaking News:*

*Kandeh Yumkella to Quit SLPP*

 

By: Anthony Kamara

 

Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, a presidential flag-bearer aspirant, is poised to exit from the opposition Sierra Leone’s People Party (SLPP). The announcement which is reportedly scheduled for next week will see about forty (40) senior officials also abandon the party.

 

Sierra Leoneans will recall that almost two months ago, Dr. Yumkella formally announced the suspension of his flag-bearer bid under the SLPP – promising to vigorously maintain his bid and campaign for the Presidency of Sierra Leone. “The current socio-political conditions in our country,” said Yumkella, “make it imperative that we should take far reaching decisions now for the survival of our country rather than just to be flag bearer of SLPP. 

According to sources who prefer their identities remain anonymous since they were not authorized to speak about it, Yumkella’s resignation will see hundreds of senior party officials do the same barely ten (10) days to the party convention. It is estimated that the bulk of the senior party officials from the Northern and Western Regions will follow Dr. Yumkella. 

Should the resignation reports prove to be true, Dr. Yumkella may finally get “the environment needed to deal with the existing and future critical national issues” he has spoken about to pursue his vision and message of “HOPE, OPPORTUNITY and TRANSFORMATION (HOT).” 

For the SLPP, such a move will undoubtedly spell doom for the party. The reason being that 62% of the total registered voters in the country are in the North-West Axis and it must be noted that the party lost all the parliamentary and local government seats there in 2012.  The SLPP South-Eastern hold becomes even more vulnerable should the current APC government chooses vice president Victor Bockarie Foh as flag-bearer among the numerous aspirants as rumours make the rounds.

 

Thus having Mr. Bio as the same presidential candidate for two presidential elections (and now attempting his third) promises another devastating defeat in the hands of the ruling party. Furthermore, the historical two decades battle between the PAOPA faction and the John Benjamin (JOB) faction has intensified and continues unabated without Kandeh Yumkella.

 

Such internal fighting has the potential to further haemorrhage the party’s chance, if they have any in the first place. However, what is clear is that these internal divisions will affect the very survival of the party which has failed to provide a credible opposition for almost a decade. In the minds of political analysts, Yumkella may have very credible reasons to provide the nation with a “third force.”

 

With all these scenarios, Yumkella’s original ambition to build a “Grand Coalition of Progressives” to fight for the common man – to ensure a better education and health care for their children; that the youth have decent and productive jobs; and leads efforts to eradicate poverty through sound economic management and wealth creation MAY just come true.

 

Could a third force make a difference this time in Sierra Leone? Could Yumkella become Sierra Leone’s Macron?