Prosecution and defence at the ongoing Court Martial trials in Freetown before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba have in their closing addresses called on board members to believe in their arguments when handing down verdict.

The Court Martial is trying six military personnel in connection to their alleged involvement June-July 2023 failed military coup attempt.

The closing addresses on Thursday February 6th, 2025 were graced by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Osman Ibrahim Kanu and 11 other state prosecutors.

Joseph A.K. Sesay, the lead state prosecutor told the court that the first accused, Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay alias PAO, who was no longer represented by a lawyer, was exempted from the address.

This was said in adherence of the law.

Sesay informed the court that all the six accused persons are long term serving personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). Thus, the state had invested heavily in them to defend its (state) territorial integrity, but they rather did the contrary.

He told the court all the accused are jointly charged on eight counts on mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny and desertion. Prosecution told the court that the state has the responsibility of proving their case beyond reasonable doubts.

He therefore told the board members that during their deliberation, if they are not sure that there is sufficient evidence against the accused persons, they should return not guilty verdict, but they are sure they will not hesitate to find them guilty.

According to him, the elements are that the state must prove that all the accused persons engaged in mutiny, which he described as an act to overthrow legitimate government or refused lawful authority within RSLAF.

For failure to suppress mutiny, he said, whether mutiny was done or were aware that it was about to happen and they failed to report without delay with their utmost endeavour.

According to him, the first four accused persons are senior officers, while the fifth accused is a junior officer and that the sixth accused is the Chairman of the Calamera organization set up to overthrow Julius Maada Bio led government.

He went on to say that the accused persons were discussing subversion in codes and hence they created another group “Security Core Network” entailing only military personnel.

A Whatsapp voice message allegedly by the six accused, Corporal Mohamed Koroma, was played in court. It indicated that they needed to train other people for a backup. Another Whatsapp voice message heard saying a female lieutenant be added to the group as she would provide them (coup planners) with information from RSLAF intelligent meetings she normally attends.

Another voice message alleged by third accused indicated that “Capay” was in Makeni, others were in Kambia and elsewhere with manpower. He said those of them in Freetown were continuing recruitment of more men. He went on to say that he would be going to the provinces to persuade other “diehard” APC soldiers” to join them.

The state reminds the court that they had brought in witnesses who were part of the said group, but chose to expose the subversive mission.

Another, voice message believed to be Captain John Conteh talked about how they would discuss their mission more at burial ceremony of a female solider in Makeni.

For failure to suppress mutiny, he said, for the fact that first, second and fifth accused ran away shows that they had knowledge of the subversion. According to prosecution, the accused persons did not report the subversion because they were the planners, executors and were recruiting more people just like they did to the fifth accused.

A Whatsapp message displayed in court showed first accused telling fifth accused t…