By Saio Marrah
Alie Badara Kanu alias Captain Makeni, 49 and Thaimu Bangura, 59, first and second accused persons respectively have appeared before a magistrate in Freetown charged with one count on treason and another for misprision of treason.
They appeared before magistrate Santigie Bangura on Tuesday August 13, 2024 for Preliminary Investigation (PI) and were not required to make a plea.
On the first count, the prosecution alleges that on diverse dates between June 24, 2023 and June 29, 2024, the two prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means and in furtherance of that the first accused operated a Whatsapp communication between him and other unknown members of the group.
It is further alleged that on diverse dates between June 24, 2023 and June 29, 2024, the second accused, Thaimu Bangura and others unknown in their preparation to overthrow the government, created a G.P. Group called Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) of which the first accused and other unknown persons were members.
According to court filing on 3, March 2024 and on diverse days between that date and April 19, 2024, the two conspired with others to overthrow the government, by agreeing to recruit other individuals including members of the military, police, ex- military and police across the country. They then allegedly purchased arms and ammunition to overthrow and take control of the government of Sierra Leone.
Further allegations are that on unknown dates between July 29 2023 and March 31, 2024, the two accused persons and others held meetings at Camp Junction and at four mile in the Freetown Peninsula in furtherance of their plot to overthrow the government and on March 31, 2024, the second accused formulated a code name for weapons. According to the details of the charges between March and April 15, the second accused circulated military deployments and planned to hold a violent protest, which they would use as a cover to carry out their unlawful plot.
On the second count of misprision of treason, the two accused persons were said to have known between January 1 and April 16, 2024 that Caesar, Captain Senesie, Captain John Conteh and others had prepared to overthrow the government, but concealed the information.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (16/08/24)
