Delays and refusals of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Dr Alie Kabba, who was later appointed as Ambassador to Sierra Leone Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York, to show up in court is scary. It worries fans and promoters of the continuing Anti-Corruption Commission push to look into alleged misappropriations of funds meant for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the Sierra Leone Chancery building in New York presided over the Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher of the ACC High Court No1.
Dr Kabba’s deliberate delays and refusals to show up in court largely undermines the national efforts in fighting corruption and by extensions gives the impression that he’s being protected by government through the ACC.
The ACC before taking the New York Chancery building matter to court for further investigations and prosecution, issued a statement that one of the suspects in the case paid One Million United States. The Commission didn’t name the suspect who made the payment, nor has it ever attempt to invite Dr Alie Kabba and others who served in similar capacities in the Foreign Service sector for questioning as part of their investigations into the matter. Dr Kabba was disgracefully recalled from the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission in New York and reposted to the Arab Republic of Egypt. A mission he refused to work and returned quietly to Sierra Leone, where no has taken against him for his insubordination conduct to the government; not even the almighty Office of the President who made the appointment can touch.
While in Sierra Leone amid the high profiled ACC investigations into the misappropriation of $4.6M meant for the renovation and reconstruction of the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission Chancery building in New York, Dr Kabba has never appear in court to give full account for his stewardship as Sierra Leone envoy to the UN. Dr Kabba had several political engagements with President Julius Maada Bio, even though the Supremo knows very well that his former envoy to the UN and political strategist has an alleged corruption case to answer. The more reason many hold the views that Kabba despite his disobedience conduct to the first office of the land at Fort Thornton, continues to enjoy the protections of the corrupt and failed New Direction government.
With his name to be sounded by prosecution witnesses, coupled with Hon Justice Fisher’s recent three days ultimatum to the ACC to come forward with all its witnesses, Dr Kabba was expected to be in court this week, but he failed to show up for undisclosed reason. The ACC court is investigating him and others for alleged US$4.6M misappropriation by former Foreign Service staffers, who were assigned to the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission in New York. The aforementioned fund was donated to the Government of Sierra Leone by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, for the renovation and reconstruction of the country’s Chancery building that housed the UN mission in New York.
Fourteenth Prosecution Witness’ testimony has seemingly implicated him, Dr Alie Kabba has not surface at the ACC trial.
Led in evidence by ACC’s Lead prosecution Counsel, Lawyer Calvin T. Matsebo, the PW14, Allan Ebu George, an employee of the Foreign Ministry, informed the court that Dr Kabba received and saved into his account One Million Dollars. He told the court that Ambassador Kabba at the time under review didn’t refund the money he took from the mission’s coffers.
George made his disclosure during cross examination by defence counsel representing 1st and 3rd accused, Pa Momoh Fofanah Esq. He said has was posted at Sierra Leone Permanent Mission at the UN, in New York since 2015 to 2022 and was a counsellor. He recognized the accused and their respective former designations at the mission, adding that procurement meetings were at all time chaired by Dr Alie Kabba, with the contractor always in attendant, though the committee became ineffective.
