The first accused in the alleged Chancery Building corruption case, Mr. Saidu Nallo, brought the courtroom to a standstill as he broke down in tears while giving his testimony on Friday.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Nallo revealed the sacrifices he made for Sierra Leone during his time as a Councillor at the United Nations Mission in New York, expressing that his dedication left little time for his own family.

Justice Adrian Fisher was prompted to halt the proceedings for over 30 minutes to allow Nallo to compose himself. The first accused’s lawyer, Mohamed Pa Momoh Fofanah, requested an adjournment, which was granted by the court without objections from the Prosecuting team, led by Lawyer Robin Mason Senior. The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

During his testimony, Nallo provided a detailed account of his career history, highlighting his service in various ministries such as Labour, Mines, Education, and Foreign Affairs.

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He began his journey in the Ministry of Finance in 2001 as an Administrative Officer before transitioning to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources. Nallo later served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and held the position of Integrity Officer for the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In 2010, Nallo was assigned to the Sierra Leone Chancery in New York, where discussions regarding the construction of the Chancery building had been ongoing since 2003-04 but lacked funding until 2015. At that time, Nallo held the position of Councillor, equivalent to Deputy Secretary, and played a role in the project. He was subsequently recalled to Freetown for a two-year role as Acting Director Multilateral and was later promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary in May 2016.

The courtroom drama surrounding Nallo’s emotional testimony has brought attention to the high-profile corruption case involving the Chancery Building. As the trial progresses, the prosecution will continue to present evidence and build their case against the accused.

The emotional outpouring from Nallo serves as a reminder of the personal toll and complexities involved in such legal proceedings.