Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has returned to his country after spending more than two years in Nigeria following his departure from Freetown in January 2024.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan disclosed Koroma’s return on Sunday, September 6, 2026, saying efforts had been made behind the scenes to facilitate dialogue between the former Sierra Leonean leader and authorities in his country.
Jonathan said he personally saw Koroma off at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as he embarked on his journey back to Sierra Leone.
“This morning, I had the pleasure of seeing off my dear friend and brother, President Ernest Bai Koroma, as he begins his journey home to Sierra Leone,” Jonathan said in a Facebook post.
He added: “Nigeria was his home away from home for over two years, and I am grateful that we were able to offer friendship, support and solidarity during that period.”
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Koroma’s return comes after Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Justice in July 2026 dropped treason-related charges against him over his alleged connection to the failed coup attempt of November 2023.
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, had earlier indicated that the former president was expected to return home over the weekend.
Jonathan said he and others had worked quietly to encourage dialogue and engagement with Sierra Leonean authorities in order to create favourable conditions for Koroma’s return.
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“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,” Jonathan said.
“As we say farewell today, I am particularly happy that he is returning home to Freetown.”
The former Nigerian president expressed hope that Koroma’s return would help promote healing, peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone.
“President Koroma, I wish you a safe journey, peace of mind and every success in this new chapter. May your return be a moment of renewed hope and reconciliation for you, your family and the people of Sierra Leone.”
“Safe travels, my brother. Sierra Leone welcomes you home,” Jonathan added.
Photographs taken at the Presidential Wing of the Abuja airport showed Jonathan and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, with Koroma shortly before his departure.
As of 3:33pm when the report was filed, neither Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had issued an official statement on Koroma’s return.
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Why Koroma Came to Nigeria
Koroma arrived in Nigeria on January 19, 2024, aboard a Nigerian presidential aircraft after Sierra Leone’s High Court granted him permission on January 17 to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The court had initially authorized him to remain outside the country for three months.
However, his stay in Nigeria ultimately lasted more than two years amid the legal proceedings linked to the November 2023 coup attempt.
Koroma, who served as Sierra Leone’s president from 2007 to 2018, had faced treason-related allegations in connection with the failed attempt to overthrow President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
The dropping of the charges in July paved the way for his return to Sierra Leone.
His homecoming now marks the end of a prolonged period away from the country and could provide a new opportunity for political reconciliation and healing in Sierra Leone.
