Sierra Leone’s Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal filed by former Minister of Works and Public Assets, Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, against the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (COI). The court upheld the decision of Justice William A. Atuguba and ordered the confiscation of properties acquired illegally by Sesay. Additionally, he has been directed to refund $135,000 to the state.
In a statement posted on the official Twitter (now X) account of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone on Wednesday, 26th February 2025, the court reaffirmed that Sesay must return the funds linked to fraudulent property transactions.
Before this ruling, a public notice issued by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on 1st July, 2022, cited the recommendations of the Justice Annan Atuguba Commission of Inquiry (No. 67 of 2018) and the 2020 Government White Paper. The notice demanded that Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay repay the state $135,000 for the illegal grant and sale of property located at Regent Road, Hill Station, Freetown, which was included in the Commission’s 2018 investigation.
The Attorney General’s office instructed that the funds be deposited into the Commission of Inquiry Special Recovery Account at the Bank of Sierra Leone within 14 days of receiving official notice. It further warned that legal measures would be taken to ensure compliance if the payment was not made.
