By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two former employees of Bloom Bank Africa, Musa Joseph Sesay (Human Resource Officer) and Joshua Gbanyah (Administrative Officer), appeared in court accused of embezzling over six hundred thousand Leones intended for EDSA top-up payments. They are also charged with forging fake EDSA receipts to cover up the missing payments.
Sesay and Gbanyah were arraigned before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 on Monday, July 28, 2025. They face four charges, including conspiracy, larceny by servant, causing money to be paid by false pretenses, and forgery of documents, all contrary to the law.
According to the charge sheet, between January 2, 2023, and March 31, 2024, while employed at the bank, the accused allegedly misappropriated funds meant for electricity bill payments (EDSA) on multiple occasions. The total amount involved is stated as Six Hundred and Nineteen Thousand New Leones (Le 619,000).
The prosecution further alleges that Gbanyah forged documents from the College of Digital Excellence, including falsified statements of results bearing his name, purportedly signed by the Registrar’s office.
During cross-examination by defense lawyer Charles Pujeh, the bank’s Internal Chief Officer, Ernest Ohua, testified. Ohua explained his role includes providing independent assurance on the bank’s management and auditing its operations. He confirmed that the accused were given money to pay for EDSA top-ups but allegedly refused to make the payments.
Ohua stated that the bank did receive electricity during the period in question; however, the electricity meter was bypassed by the accused persons. He also confirmed that receipts related to the meter’s credit report were issued.
He detailed that payments for the meter were supposed to cover the period from January 2023 to December 6, 2023, but EDSA later visited the bank to collect outstanding debts.
Ohua further explained that both accused were responsible for making payments on the bank’s electricity meter and that disbursements were made to them via “expense vouchers.” At the time, the bank had three administrative officers. Gbanyah had initially been employed as a dispatch rider before being promoted to administrative officer, a fact supported by an official letter (Exhibit B1-23) admitted in court.
Ohua described “Cash Advance” as money provided to purchase items, which must be accounted for by submitting receipts. While the accused submitted receipts, EDSA identified them as forged. Ohua stated that Gbanyah presented the fake receipts, but the bank did not know their source.
Both accused persons are currently out on bail. The case is scheduled to continue on Monday, August 4, 2025.