Court Martial Hearing: Witness Says he was Captured By Koita & Others

By Feima Sesay

The 25th prosecution witness Leutinant Coniel Sheik Ahmed Sandi, has on Thursday 14th March 2024 revealed before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba that on the day of the incidents he was captured by Koita, and others and put under gun point.

Lead in evidence by the prosecutor Cornell Mohamed S Kamara, said he is the commander Joint Provoke Unit, adding that his duties are to support the military operations in terms of traffic control, insecurity, conduct investigation that lies between the arm force and Sierra Leone police and he is also responsible for regulating the conduct of military personnel.

Coniel Sandi furthered that On 25 November 2023, he was at home when he received a call from Leutinant Coniel Sannoh, the commander in charge of operation at Murray town at 10pm informing him that all the joint force commanders should assemble at Cockril headquarters.

He said prior to that date, he had arrested three soldiers for the offense of assault who were in guard room.

He said he was also ordered that night to release the said soldiers for an operational patrol that night.

He said he was told that they should go on security partrol as there was an intelligence that Freetown would be attacked.

He said the commander joint force at Cockril headquarters requested to see him immediately and he ordered major M. Conteh officers commanding to effect the release of the soldiers in custody.

Witness Coniel Sandi continued that he then instructed Staff Sergeant John Conteh to join him at Cockril headquarters which he did.

He furthered that while at the headquarters, all joint force commanders and all western areas commanders were summoned to the meeting including the commander of 5 Battalion Leutinant Cornell Yamba seventeen accused.

The witness furthered that the accused then came to the joint force commander who told him in his presence and the presence of other officers that there was an intelligence that Freetown was going to be attacked that night and as commander of 5 Battalion he should ensure that his arm and ammunitions were protected and that he should beef up security of his unit and be on alert.

He continued that the instruction to be alert to protect the arm store was specifically given to the 17th accused and thereafter, the other commanders were addressed and instructions were generic to every commander of protecting arms and ammunitions and security.

He said the commander joint force directed that they should provide arm patrol to join up with the police to conduct security patrol on that night.

Cornell Sandi added that every commander left for their unit but he stayed at the headquarters joint force because he was tasked to probe the escort military personnel who were going to police headquarters to conduct patrol.

He said he then released a set of arm military personnel led by major M. P Conteh who escorted the partrol vehicles to police headquarters.

He said while at the headquarters, he received a call from one of his soldiers Lance Coporal Yakumba who was at Wilberforce and he told him that unknown person has entered into the barracks and were about to break the amory store.

He said Coporal Yakumba specifically made reference to a soldier who was on duty and was disarmed.

He said he then asked Coporal Yakumba if they were firing and he said no but they disarmed them.

He said at this point he did not raise an alarm and he drove in his private car to Wilberforce but at that time situation was normal.

Witness Sandi furthered that he then called Yakumba again to confirm if what he said was true and he told him that the people had now moved to the arm and ammunitions store and they were trying to break the store.

He said he did not proceed further but found a way to park his vehicle and he called Yakumba again and this time he heard some sounds at the background which he said was the sound of breaking at the store of the arm and ammunitions.

He said upon hearing that sound, he immediately called Leutinant Coniel Yamba seventeen accused on his phone since it was his unit to know whether he is at his office and Coniel Yamba answers and told him that he was in his office.

The witness furthered that he then told Coniel Yamba that he had information that unknown men were breaking into his arm and ammunitions store and if he was at his office he should move with his personal to repel the attackers and he responded that he would move his men to repel the attackers.

He said after few minutes without hearing any shots from Wilberforce, especially office of Coniel Yamba, he called him again to tell him that he was very close to his office and he could hear sound from far so he requested again that he moved his personnel to repel the attackers.

He said the distance between Coniel Yamba officer to the arm force is 300 meter.

The witness furthered that when he made the third call to Coniel Yamba he did not pick up and at this point he called the commander joint force Major General Dauda Alpha and brigadier Idiara Bangura, Coniel Kosowa and other officers that were on patrol and informed them about what was going on at Wilberforce.

He said he then requested that the patrol team return back to Wilberforce to repel the attackers.

He said he called the Director of the Presidential Guards Force Cornell Farma and also informed the authorities concerned and they promised to be at the scene to respond.

He said after that he heard the first shot of RPG within the barracks and the sound came from the arm store.

He furthered that at that time Yakumba sent him a text on Whatsapp that the assiliants were trying to leave the barracks to go outside.

He said he received a call from one of the presidential guards force captain, Tejan, that troops were leaving the presidential lodge to the scene to repel the attackers and he told him to remain at the scene saying that they were on their way.

He furthered that he was afraid of being caught during the cross firing and he decided to leave the scene and return to Cockril headquarters.

Witness Sandi continued that on his way back, he realized that the whole bottom mango was empty and he returned again to Cockril and relayed all information he gathered to Coniel Kposowa.

He said whiles at Cockrill gate, he heard an RPG blasts. The witness furthered that he then went to the main Cockril gate to know where the firing came from and whiles there, he saw two military vehicles that were under his unit and was able to recognize them even though it was dark but still recognized the number.

He said the first question that came to his mind was that who assigned the vehicles to officers without his command and made up his mind to go and check who ordered the vehicle to be out.

He said while moving towards the vehicle, he received a call from one of his staff Sergeant who gave him an update on the incident at Wilberforce, adding that while talking on his phone, he saw group of
men dressed in military uniforms came down both vehicles and amongst was staff Sergeant Abu Dauda – the fourth accued and staff Sergeant Idriss Kallon- the nine accused both of 15 Battalion but he did not talk to them and they also did not talk to him because he was still on his phone.

He said in his mind he thought that they were on assignment but never knew that they were part of the assilants, adding that he never knew he was in the pool of enemies as he walked pass them still on his phone.

He furthered that while walking, somebody tapped him from the back and they pointed gun at him but did not resist and the person pushed him inside one of the military vehicle.

He added that while in the vehicle, he recognized Koita and Kabba Dumbuya, one of the security guard to former president Koroma and they were dressed in plain clothe.

He said Koita demanded for his phone and he took it from him and captain Senessie who was on the run also took his other phone.

He said after a brief torture in the vehicle, Koita told him that he was a high target for them but if he obeyed their instructions he would not be killed.

He said a lot of the assilants in both vehicles were not in uniform and he later recognized retired captain Kargbo and few others.

Witness Sandi furthered that Koita spent few minutes talking to him not to attempt to escape and if he did, he would kill him and there were other arm men in the vehicle having weapons pointed at him.

He said after his arrest, he witnessed the arrest of other Soliders too and both vehicles drove out of Cockril with no firing, adding that on their way going he was sandwiched between Koita and Kabba.

He said on the way, Koita told him to be honest to them and he was honest to tell him that he was a commander and Coniel Kposowa was the Chief of Staff.

He furthered that Koita told him that he was going to use his phone to get other commanders together.
Whiles approaching Murray Town junction , he heard a loud exposure followed by an Ak47 sound that lasted less than a minute.

He said at that point Koita hilighted from the vehicle and all of them went to the scene of the explosion but said was unable to see what was happening because he was warned not to escape and soldiers with guns were around him while still inside the vehicle.

He furthered that Koita later returned to the vehicle and ordered him to show him the password of his phone so that he could make calls to other commanders but told him that he did not remember his password.

He said Koita then ordered him that he should call other commanders of the different joint units that the presidential guards force were moving to their areas to releave them and they should move all of their men out of their post but he told him that he did not know the numbers of all the commanders only the numbers of the presidential guards force.

Witness Sandi continued that while still under pressure by Koita, he called RSM Sama of Joint Logistic Unit (JLU) with a different number and he introduced himself and told him that presidential guards force are on their way to their unit and every soldier should leave their post but RSM Sama replied that they were not leaving their post until the presidential guards arrived.

He continued that at this point the assilants told him to inform RSF Sama again that if they did not leave their post they would attack them but he still insisted that unless the presidential guards came.

He said at that point they drove the vehicle inside Murray town barrack and they parked the vehicles facing the JLU where the weapons were kept.

He informed the court that Koita said would be placed in front of the road and if any firing occured from JLU, he would be the first to be killed but considerably the police force came, but did not shoot since they knew him and Staff Sergeant Kallon-nine accused abandoned the vehicle when he realized that they could not get the weapon.

He said he then observed heavy arm soldiers leaving JLU gate to the Murray town barrack and they had their RPGS with few Ak47 rifles and they were advancing towards him.

He said he still stood at the middle of the road as he was ordered by Koita and the assilants were at the corner observing.
He said as the group got closer, he sensed some panic on the assilants and fortunately they also did not shoot because they also recognized him.

He said their plans were to attack the JLU and collect the ammunitions that were kept there but seeing that they did not succeed, Koita ordered them to go to Pademba Road prison which they did.

He furthered that he was placed in the vehicle again and on their way to prison by Cong cross bridge, they met two police vehicles and the assilants attacked them and ordered the vehicle to stop and they placed the police under gun point and ordered them to join them which they did.

He continued that while approaching Pademba Road prison, they saw another two police vehicles well armed with weapons and the vehicle was passing along Pademba Road but little did they know that they were ambushed.

He furthered that the police personnel were also attacked by the assilants and they were asked to lead the way to prison which they did and he was still at the back of the vehicle under gun point.

He said all the assilants and those captured were all clustered before the prison gate and Koita ordered them to fire the RPG at the prison gate.

He furthered that at the prison gate, Koita ordered him and the captured police officers to
open the prison gate which they did.

He said Koita then ordered that the prisoner to be out especially retired captain Milton who is now on the run.

He said Koita also ordered that they should break the cells of the prison.
He added that at that point he became so terrified thinking that if any soldiers that were around saw him, he would be killed and he made up his mind to speak with Koita and he warned him not to escape and ordered him to look for the cell where captain Milton was and he came to know that it was cell eleven and he quickly opened the cell and Captain Milton huged him and congratulated him since they both knew each other and captain Milton thought he was among the assilants.

He said inorder to escape, he told captain Milton that he wanted to remove his uniform and he gave him the sum of five hundred thousand old Leones so that the assilants that were still behind him would leave and believe now that he was part of them.

He said after he received the money, captain Milton said he would talk to Koita and they both went to him and captain Milton showered a lot of praises on him to Koita and Koita agreed for him to remove the uniform and strongly warned him again not to escape.

He said captain Milton ordered the inmates to give him a clothes and pretending that he was helping them to release the prisoners he waited until good number of prisoners were gathered to move out and he joined the prisoners without being noticed by anyone.

He said after he had escaped, he used the main road to Campbell Street junction and he met a vehicle and he saw nine accused staff sergeant Kallon and he asked him if he was trying to escape and he told him that he wanted to go but accused Kallon initially stopped him from escaping but he spoke to him and he offered him some money and he agreed for him to escape.

He continued that while running, he came across the fourth accued staff Sergeant Abu Dauda and he was armed with Ak47 rifles and he also asked him again wether he was going to escape and he responded yes and Sergeant Dauda showed him a root to escape but was afraid since he was holding a gun thinking that he would shoot him from the back while running.

The witness said he then cleverly went to him and sat by him and Sergeant Dauda told him that he was also captured and wanted to escape and he told him that they should escape which they did.

He furthered that they went to the house of Sergeant Dauda and he asked him to borrow him his phone for him to call his wife and other military personnel but he refused.

He said later he succeeded in calling his family and the RSLAF officers and a vehicle was sent to collect them and they both went to Cockril headquarters.

He said at Cockeril he introduced Sergeant Dauda as the one who helped him escape.
He said staff Sergeant Abu Dauda followed him to his office and he gave him another two hundred new Leones and thanked him for helping him escape but said he was not happy because he refused to give him his phone.

He said staff Abu Dauda said he was exhausted and wanted to sleep and few minutes later he got a call that staff Sergeant Abu Dauda was wanted as he was among the assilants and he was arrested and taken to the criminal investigation department for investigation.

The witness said he made statement to the military police .
He was cross examined by lawyer Julian Cole counsel for 17th accused Leutinunant Cornell Yamba, Lawyer Charlie Israel Williams defense Counsel for 12th accused Corporal Adikalie Kamara, Lawyer and Tejan counsel for the 4th accused Staff sergeant Abu Dauda respectively.