Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma departed Nigeria on Sunday morning, September 6, 2026, ending more than two years of political asylum in Abuja following the complete dismissal of his treason charges in Freetown.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan personally accompanied Koroma to his flight at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. ​
Koroma’s return follows extensive quiet diplomacy and judicial resolutions across West Africa; Koroma arrived in Abuja on January 19, 2024, aboard a Nigerian presidential jet after receiving a three-month medical leave clearance from a Sierra Leone High Court.
The clearance came amid treason charges tied to the failed November 2023 coup attempt in Freetown. Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General’s Office officially discontinued all criminal proceedings against Koroma in July 2026, clearing all legal hurdles for his unconditional return.
In a public statement shared on Sunday morning, Goodluck Jonathan revealed that behind-the-scenes negotiations helped secure Koroma’s departure, noting: “Working quietly with others, we encouraged dialogue and engagement with the Sierra Leonean authorities to help create the conditions for his safe and dignified return.”
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, had signaled the homecoming on Friday, September 4, 2026, framing the move as a crucial step toward national reconciliation. Upon touchdown at Freetown International Airport on Sunday afternoon, Koroma addressed members of the press, confirming he was “back home” and willing to participate in national consultations to foster political stability.
