A major corruption scandal has rocked Sierra Leone’s banking and local government sectors as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) reveals the arrest of 13 Freetown City Council (FCC) staff and two employees of Commerce and Mortgage Bank in connection with the fraudulent conversion of Le 4 billion (old Leones) intended for the city’s revenue activities.

During a press conference on February 6, 2025, Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala, disclosed that the fraud scheme involved FCC employees colluding with the bank officials to divert funds meant for billboards, licenses, and other city revenue generation activities into personal accounts.

According to Kaifala, the fraudsters would skillfully alter payment details, directing funds from issued cheques to the FCC Football Club account, rather than the appropriate city revenue account.

The FCC Football Club, established in 2019 and initially supported by the city’s mayor, Yvonne Aki Sawyer, became the focal point of the illicit activities. While Mayor Aki Sawyer was originally a signatory on the club’s account, she later withdrew her signature from the football club.

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The investigation revealed that employees of Commerce and Mortgage Bank played a significant role in the fraud, forging signatures and facilitating the withdrawal of large sums of money from the football club’s account.

Kaifala condemned these banking officials, stating that they were “the main culprits” and underlined that commercial banks must be held accountable for failing to protect government revenue.

Kaifala also pointed to internal control failures within the involved banks as a contributing factor to the fraud. He emphasized that poor leadership, lack of supervision, and weak internal controls had allowed such corrupt practices to flourish.

As of now, all individuals involved are in custody, except for one who has been granted bail due to health concerns. The investigation is ongoing, with the Mayor of Freetown, Deputy Mayor, Chief Administrator, and city councilors also involved in the probe.

The fraud, which reportedly started in 2022 and continued until January 2025, has sent shockwaves through both the banking sector and the local government. Kaifala called on the media to remain vigilant and encouraged journalists to report any instances of corruption in both public and private institutions