EBK, ACC Brouhaha; Much Ado About Nothing
November 25th, 2020 – The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) concluded the much talked about interview with the former President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at a place the commission described as one of its ‘’safer houses’’ in Freetown after several failed attempts.
The said interview according to the ACC was for the former President to answer to questions on alleged corrupt practices the commission says it is investigating.
However, the concluded interview was nothing short of controversies emanating from the three failed attempts by the commission to hold it as a result of securities issues of the commission on one hand and the former president on the other.
It could be recalled that following the release and launching of the COI White Paper by President Bio, the ACC quickly sent out invitation to the former president stating that it wanted to question him on corrupt practices he was involved in whilst in office.
That invitation however, did not come without controversies as the news was received with mixed-feelings depending on which side of the political coin one belongs.
Apologist of the ruling party upon receiving the news were quick to crucify the former president calling him all sorts of names while opposition apologists saw it as a political machination aiming at tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of their leader who they believed, diligently served the country whilst in office.
The former president himself had to issue out a press release stating that he was ready to defend his good name which he said the SLPP led government has been trying so hard to bring to disrepute.
The controversies further deepened when the interview date scheduled was aborted because the ACC alleged that the residence of the former president was barricade by supporters of the opposition chairman and leader; an allegation largely believed to be untrue.
As if that was not enough, former President Koroma was again invited to come over to the ACC office in Freetown for the interview but this was also not honoured as a result of security concerns raised by the former president which to a very large extent were in place because the security sector had issued a message of threat to would be supporters who may wish to come out in solidarity with the former president whilst also stating that the Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma would be held responsible for anything that may go wrong.
But amidst all the drama that characterized the said interview, the alleged intervention of the international community in Sierra Leone was able to make way for the interview to hold peacefully with no issues.
The whole issue therefore was much ado about nothing.
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
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