By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two former employees of Bloom Bank Africa, Musa Joseph Sesay (Human Resource and Administrative Officer) and Joshua Gbanyah, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 on Thursday, July 3, 2025, for allegedly embezzling over six hundred thousand New Leones (NLe 600,000) intended for EDSA electricity top-up payments.
The two are facing charges including conspiracy, larceny by servant, causing money to be paid by false pretenses, and forgery of documents, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the charge sheet, between January 2, 2023, and March 31, 2024, while employed at Bloom Bank, the accused allegedly misappropriated funds meant for electricity bill payments to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) on multiple occasions. It further stated that both individuals facilitated the payment of NLe 619,000 from the bank under false pretenses.
The prosecution also alleges that the second accused, Joshua Gbanyah, forged documents purportedly issued by the College of Digital Excellence, including fake academic transcripts and results bearing his name. The documents were allegedly presented as authentic and signed by the Registrar’s Office, but police investigations later determined they were falsified.
At a previous hearing, Ernest Ohue, the Chief Internal Auditor of Bloom Bank, testified before the court. During the latest sitting, defense counsel C.C. G. Commoh, representing the first accused, Musa Joseph Sesay, cross-examined the witness.
Responding to questions, Auditor Ohue confirmed that a deposit of NLe 10,000 was made by one Paul Nanason at the bank during the period the incident occurred. He also testified that Joshua Gbanyah served as a dispatch rider and retained that role during the alleged misconduct.
When asked whether there was any record showing that either accused withdrew funds without the bank management’s knowledge, Ohue replied that management only became aware of the irregularities when EDSA attempted to disconnect the bank’s electricity due to non-payment. That incident triggered an internal audit that uncovered the missing funds.
Ohue further noted that Sesay resigned from the bank one month before the fraud was discovered. He confirmed that receipts for EDSA top-up payments were submitted before Sesay’s resignation. However, EDSA later reported that the bank’s electricity meter had been tampered with, and no credit had been purchased for a certain period.
He also disclosed that the account used by Sesay for EDSA-related deposits Account No. 0012011040 was closed following his resignation.
Although the defense pointed out there was no direct evidence from EDSA linking Sesay to tampering with the meter or any formal transactions involving both accused, Ohue responded that internal documents show financial transactions occurred between the bank and the accused in relation to the EDSA top-up.
The case continues as both defense and prosecution prepare for further hearings and examination of evidence.