Saidu Nallo has last Friday 14 July 2023 taken the witness box as the first defence witness in the continuing Sierra Leone Permanent Mission to the United Nations Chancery in New York trial presided over by Hon Justice Adrian Fisher at the Anti-Corruption Commission – ACC High Court No 1 in Freetown.

Giving his testimony during Friday 14 July hearing, the former Minister, Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Saidu Nallo said; “On numerous occasions I acted nonchalantly to take up the assignment in New York, because it was having a toll on my family relationship.”

Nallo emotionally burst into tears in court, which prompted the matter to be stood down for over thirty minutes.

Immediately after the resumption of the hearing, defence lawyer representing Saidu Nallo, Pa Momoh Fofanah requested for an adjournment for his client to get himself properly composed.

Fofanah’s motion was granted by Hon Justice Fisher and matter was adjourned to Wednesday 19 July 2023 for further hearing.

Before he started crying, Nallo informed the court that before becoming a career diplomat, he had served six different ministries of the state for one month each, starting with the Ministry of Finance, as an Administrative Officer- Cadet in 2001.

He disclosed that he was charged with the task of budget preparations in the Budget Bureau, working under the supervision of the Financial Secretary among other responsibilities.

“I then moved to the Ministries of Mines and Mineral Resources, having left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, where I worked for six months”, he explained.

Nallo continued that he was again promoted to the rank of Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Education and left in 2007, adding that between 2003-2007. He added that he was made an Integrity Officer for the Anti-Corruption Commission under the leadership of Val-Collier.

After the leaving the Ministry of Education, I returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation as a Senior Assistant Secretary In-Charge of the Asia Division at the time Mr. Yillah was serving as the Permanent Secretary.

The first defence witness said he rose through the ranks at the Foreign Affairs Ministry until he was posted in 2010 to the Sierra Leone Chancery in New York.

At that time, he explained Ambassador Sheku Turay was the Permanent Representative for the Mission and Margaret Jah-Matturi was the Head of Chancery.

He said that the issue of the Chancery building had been under discussion since 2003-2004 but there was no funding.

Nallo said in 2015 he was still Councillor which is equivalent to the level of a Deputy Secretary.

He recalled that in April 2015, “I was recalled to Freetown for two years as Acting Director Multi-Lateral and about May 2016, I was promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary.

Nalo narrated that by 2015 Mr. Vandy Chidie Minah was Permanent Representative, whiles Alusine Sesay was the Head Chancery.

He told the court that the Director General at the time was Amb. Rasie Kargbo, who according to him was succeeded by Amb. Kadijatu Basil whiles Dr Samura Kamara was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.