Major in Court For Mutiny in July 2023 Subversion

In the case of the July 2023 subversion, the primary accused, Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay, was brought before the court on charges of mutiny, failure to suppress incitement among other military personnel, and desertion. Sesay vehemently denied these allegations during his testimony at the Court Martial in Freetown on January 21, 2025, labeling them as “baseless, malicious, and prejudicial.”

During his testimony, Major Sesay revealed that he had first met the second accused, Juana Kabba, in 2022 when he applied for study leave at the Ministry of Defence to pursue his law school program. He recounted his experience of being invited to Guinea in 2023 to represent the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) in a presentation on borderless trade. Impressed by his performance, he was asked to extend his presentation to other African countries facing similar border crossing challenges.

Major Sesay explained that he conducted research at various border-crossing points between Sierra Leone and Guinea, such as Sanya and Mongo, as part of his fellowship responsibilities. He also mentioned that the fifth accused, Suwu, his girlfriend, was undergoing training on small arms possession during her Junior Command Staff Course, prompting him to investigate border smuggling of small arms to assist her.

While seeking treatment for a skin condition at a hospital in Madina Oulain, Guinea, Major Sesay encountered a Guinean soldier carrying a pistol. Curious about the availability of firearms for sale, he inquired about the cost of a pistol, learning that it was priced at seven million Guinean Francs, equivalent to 14 million old Leones.

The individual stated that he conducted an assessment to determine the potential for weapon smuggling along the borders of the two countries. He informed the court that upon his arrest, he was placed in solitary confinement for three days and subjected to torture by members of the RSLAF in an attempt to coerce a confession.

He recounted how senior officers from the RSLAF and Sierra Leone Police tried to persuade him to become a prosecution witness by offering lucrative benefits, which he declined. He disputed the Voluntary Caution Statement presented to him.

Regarding the Kalamera WhatsApp group, the accused claimed that his number was added without his knowledge and that he promptly removed himself, only to be added back against his will. He received a threatening call from a foreign number warning him not to leave the group, under threat of harm to his family. He admitted to facilitating the inclusion of the fifth accused’s number in the group for monitoring purposes.

He mentioned that his phone was hacked at one point and reported the incident to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Inspector Jusu advised him not to comply with the blackmailer’s demands for money.

Regarding the jailbreak and escape from prison, he described hearing gunshots in the early hours of November 26, 2023, which led to his capture by assailants who took him towards Orugu Bridge by Jui. Government forces intervened, allowing him to escape and reach Guinea.

The defendant stated that due to concerns about his safety in Guinea, he decided to travel to Senegal. While in Senegal, he received information that the fifth accused individual had returned to Guinea but was in distress, so he felt compelled to go back to Guinea to assist her. The defendant explained that both of them sought asylum at the UN Refugee Agency in Guinea while awaiting approval.

However, their plans were disrupted when security forces raided their residence, leading to their arrest and subsequent deportation to Freetown. The defendant recounted being held in solitary confinement for a period of three months.

Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay is one of five individuals facing charges related to mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and desertion in connection with the events of July 2023. His testimony at the Court Martial in Freetown on January 21, 2025, saw him vehemently denying the accusations, labeling them as unfounded, malicious, and biased.

In his defense, Major Sesay detailed his initial encounter with the second accused, Juana Kabba, in 2022 when he applied for study leave to pursue his legal studies. He described being invited to Guinea in 2023 to represent the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) in a presentation on cross-border trade. Impressed by his work, he was offered a fellowship to continue similar presentations in other African nations grappling with border issues.

Major Sesay went on to discuss his research on various border points between Sierra Leone and Guinea, such as Sanya and Mongo. He mentioned that the fifth accused, Suwu, his partner, was undergoing training on small arms possession among civilians, prompting him to investigate small arms smuggling across the border to support her efforts.

During this period, Major Sesay sought medical treatment for a skin condition at a hospital in Madina Oulain, Guinea. His testimony shed light on his activities and motivations leading up to the charges brought against him in the July 2023 subversion case.