By Yusufu S. Bangura
Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay (PAO), standing trial at a Court Martial before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and a seven-member Board, has pleaded not guilty to charges of mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and desertion. Testifying in his defense, Major Sesay alleged that the charges against him and the fifth accused, Zainab Amara Suwu, stemmed from personal grudges after Ms. Suwu, his romantic partner, chose him over other senior officers, including three Lieutenant Colonels and a Major General.
Major Sesay testified that he met the second accused, Juana Kabba, in 2022 while applying for study leave to pursue a law degree. In 2023, he was invited to Guinea to represent the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) at a conference on borderless trade. His performance led to further invitations to present on similar issues across Africa.
As part of his research into cross-border smuggling and small arms trafficking, Major Sesay visited border areas between Sierra Leone and Guinea, including Sanya and Mongo. During this time, he sought medical treatment in Madina Oula, Guinea.
He recounted an encounter with a Guinean soldier who admitted to crossing into Sierra Leone with a pistol. Major Sesay inquired about the availability of firearms in Guinea and was told that pistols could be purchased for seven million Guinean francs (approximately 14 million Leones). He claimed his inquiries were part of his research into small arms smuggling.
Following his arrest, Major Sesay alleged that he was held in solitary confinement for three days and subjected to torture by RSLAF personnel to extract a confession. He further claimed that senior security officials attempted to coerce him into becoming a prosecution witness in exchange for his release and other benefits, which he refused.
He accused investigators of fabricating evidence, including a Voluntary Caution Statement purportedly written by him. He also denied any intentional involvement with the “Calamera” WhatsApp group, describing it as political. He testified that his number was added to the group without his consent and that he was repeatedly re-added after attempting to leave. He admitted, however, to adding the fifth accused, Ms. Suwu, to the group for monitoring purposes.
Major Sesay recounted his alleged escape during a prison break on November 26, 2023. He claimed he was forcibly taken by assailants during the jailbreak and fled to Guinea and later Senegal for safety. While in Guinea, he learned that Ms. Suwu had also arrived but was in poor health. He returned to Guinea to assist her, and together they applied for asylum with the UN Refugee Agency.
Before their application was processed, Guinean security forces arrested them, and they were repatriated to Sierra Leone, where they were detained in solitary confinement at the Military Police Headquarters in Bengazi for three months.
Major Sesay criticized the investigation, alleging that investigators failed to verify key details of his claims. He said they did not visit Madina Oula to confirm his hospital admission or interview Guinean military officials regarding his activities.
Major PAO Sesay is among six accused individuals facing eight charges, including mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and desertion, in connection to the July 2023 subversion incident. The Court Martial proceedings continue.
