By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two witnesses have testified before judge advocate Mark Ngegba and other panel of judges at the court martial that has been set up against twenty-seven military personnel on the November 26 fail coup d’etat.
Corporal Sheku Marrah said he is attached at the Quick Reaction Force at Cockrill headquarters.
He said on the 25 November, 2023, at 9:pm they were having their normal parade that used to be conducted and after that those on duty stands alert and those who are not on duty were relaxed.
He said at around 1: am on 26 November, 2023, Lieutenant Jewel asked all of them to report at the headquarter joint force command which they did.
He said they were separated into two patrol teams and the one patrol team left with Lieutenant Jewel for patrol at Mile 13 and they were left at the headquarter.
He said around 2 am the joint force commander Major Alpha call them and said that there is an attack at Wilberforce and the other patrol team came and they all onboard the vehicle.
Witness Marrah further that they left Cockrill using the road to Lumley axis for spur loop.
He said when they arrived at the lodge of the Vice president Major Gassama and Lieutenant Jewel told them to come down the vehicle and said they should walk by foot to Wilberforce barracks.
He said upon arrival at the main gate of Wilberforce barracks by the guard room gate their boss told them to laid down flat on the ground to observe what was going on.
He said while on that somebody came out of the gate and blasted an RPG on them and Major Gassama became injured.
Witness Marrah added that they withdrew with Major Gassama to bottom mango and one of the soldiers was asked to take him to hospital.
He said at that time there were series of gun shots with RPG blast and they were asked to withdraw to Wilberforce village.
He said they ran and upon their arrival at the back of the Vice president lodge, Corporal Neka was making calls on his phone and he noticed one of the soldiers threaten to shoot Corporal Neka if he continues to make calls on his phone and he (witness) took the phone from corporal Neka.
He said from there they onboard the vehicle and went to Cockrill headquarters.
After his testimony, lawyer Bangura Legal Aid Board defer cross examination saying that fresh evidence has been laid against the eight accused Corporal Neka and has to confer with him before doing his cross examination in the interest of fairness.
His application was granted and the next witness took the dock to testify.
Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Soriba deploy at the Quick Reaction Force Cockrill headquarters said his responsibility is to issue out arms and ammunition to soldiers within their unit and account for them when needed.
He recognized the third accused RSLAF 18172996 Sergeant Albert Bassie Conteh when he was posted at the Forces Regional Unit at Cockrill headquarters.
He recognized the fourth accused RSLAF 181174602 Abu Dauda when he was attached at the Lungi and the eight accused RSLAF 1811624 Lieutenant Corporal Eustace Neka at Cockrill and the nine accused RSLAF 18168075 Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Kallon in 2008 at Lungi barracks.
He said on 25 November, 2023, he was at the Cockrill headquarters and around 11 pm the Joint Force Commander General Alpha met them and asked them to follow him at their parade ground.
He said whiles there some of the officers were having weapons and some were not having.
He said he then thought it that he should issue arms to those officers who do not have.
He said he then return to the headquarter and took some magazine having 7.62/39 millimeters and issued those who don’t have weapons.
He said upon return to the store he met Lans Corporal Neka eight accused sitting down under a mango tree and he asked him if he is not aware of what is happening.
He said he then issues him and other four soldiers’ weapons and said he did not return again to the parade ground but asked Lans Corporal Neka and others to be with him on the ground and be vigilant.
He said later he saw 2996 staff Sergeant Conteh the third accused also met him for weapon and while asking him Abu Dauda was also behind him also asking for weapon but he did not give it to him because he was not among their unit.
The witness further that later two metropolitan military personnel went to the headquarter and ask Abu Dauda if he is part of their unit and he told them that he is not part of them.
He said they then asked him to follow them and they took him away.
At this juncture, all defense Counsel representing the third, fourth, eight and nine accused sought for a date to cross examined the witness.
The matter comes up 25th January 2024 for cross examination by defense Counsels.