14th October 2024.
Out of 27 accused persons, 25 were convicted and jailed for their involvement in the November 26 coup, in which 18 security personnel and two (2) civilians were brutally killed.
II. In the previous episodes, we have discussed the involvements in the coup of the 9th accused (Staff Sergeant Idrissa Kallon), the 20th accused (Sergeant Fofanah Kemoh), and the 21st accused (Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Thorlu Bangura, alias Tiger). Each of the said accused persons was jailed for 120 years in the just concluded court martial trial involving the state versus Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 others.
III. In connection with the said coup, we have also discussed the conspiracy of the deceased Idrissa Ahmid Kamara alias Leather Boot, the deceased Sorieba Mansaray, the fugitive Kabba Dumbuya, and the jailed Amadu Koita (who had also been convicted with 10 others in the High Court presided over by Justice Komba Kamanda).
IV. In those episodes, we published several EVIDENCE tendered by the prosecution against the above-mentioned accused persons, deceased, fugitive, and convict.
V. Today, we will further discuss the involvement, in the bloody coup, of Lance Corporal Eustace Neka (the 8th accused in the said court martial trial).
VI. During the said court martial trial, the prosecution tendered a number of pieces of evidence to show that the 8th accused, Lance Corporal Eustace Neka, took active parts in the grand scheme to overthrow President Bio, to brutally kill security personnel, and to set free over 2,000 inmates at the country’s custodial facilities along Pademba Road and at the Special Court Complex.
VII. According to the 4th Prosecution Witness (PW 4), the 8th Accused was part of his fighting troop mobilized on the night of the coup to repel the assailants at Wilberforce Barracks.
VIII. PW 4 disclosed that on arrival at Wilberforce Barracks, they realized that the fighting troop led by Major Musa Dassama was attacked by the assailants, who were breaking into the armoury of the 5th Infantry Battalion.
IX. PW 4 also disclosed that he quickly took his men to the fighting scene, where he met Major Dassama bleeding profusely after he (Major Dassama) was shot with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb.
X. PW 4 told the Court that he immediately evacuated the injured Major Dassama and sent him to the nearest medical facility for treatment.
XI. “I then returned to the fighting scene and collected all my men, including the 8th Accused, to a safer location,” PW 4 said.
XII. PW 4 also said that at the safer location, he conducted a check parade and all of the men were intact.
XIII. PW 4 further said that while moving to the safer location, they were constantly attacked. He added that the attacks were occurring whenever the 8th accused made phone calls.
XIV. PW 4 revealed that after realizing the effects of the 8th Accused’s phone calls, he threatened to shoot him (the 8th Accused) if he attempted to make any more calls.
XV. PW 4 also revealed that after giving the threat, he moved all of the men, on foot, to Congo Cross Junction, where they were later picked up and taken to Cockerill Barracks.
XVI. “At Congo Cross, I conducted a check parade and I realized that the 8th accused was missing,” PW 4 concluded.
XVII. In addition to the testimony of PW 4, the prosecution further tendered an audio message, which the 8th accused sent to the 6th accused (Corporal Edward Koroma alias Smallie) after he (the 8th accused) had been left behind during the attack on the custodial facilities along Pademba Road and at the Special Court Complex.
XVIII. In the said audio message, the 8th accused enquired to know the whereabouts of the 6th accused and the other assailants. The 8th accused also explained how he was left behind during the attack on the said custodial facilities.
XIX. In his voluntary caution statement, the 8th accused, Lance Corporal Eustace Neka, denied that he was missing at Congo Cross Junction.
XX. The 8th accused told the court that he was arrested at Cockerill Barracks and taken to Murray Town Junction and then to the said custodial facilities.
XXI. The 8th Accused revealed that he was present at Murray Town Junction when one of the assailants fired an RPG bomb at the convoy of the Commander Joint Force, Major General Dauda Alpha, which resulted in the killing of Lieutenant Colonel Wilfred Sao Samai and Staff Sergeant Nabieu Marrah.
XXII. At the end of the court martial trial, the 8th accused, Lance Eustace Neka, was convicted of all 31 counts, including two counts of murder. He was also slammed with the MAXIMUM jail term of 120 years.
NOTE:
The next court martial trials commence on Thursday, 17th October, 2024. The details will follow later.
Major Yayah Brima,
Media Operations Officer,
Headquarters, Joint Force Command, Cockerill Barracks,
Freetown.
Phone/WhatsApp: 078 452 876
