By Jeneba Conteh
In a startling legal turn of events, Musa Joseph Sesay, a Human Resource Officer at Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, and Joshua Gbanyah, a student at the College of Digital Excellence (CODE), have been summoned to Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 to answer to a series of serious charges related to an alleged fraudulent scheme that has reportedly resulted in the misappropriation of NLe 619,000. This significant amount was earmarked for payments to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) for electricity recharges, raising serious concerns about the integrity of financial operations within the bank.
The two accused individuals made their first court appearance on May 5, 2025, before Principal Magistrate Shar Kekura. They confront a daunting total of forty-two charges, which include conspiracy, larceny by a servant, causing money to be paid by pretenses and forgery of documents. Each of these charges carries severe penalties under Sierra Leonean law, and if found guilty, both Sesay and Gbanyah could face significant legal repercussions.
According to the indictment, the alleged fraudulent activities took place over an extended period, specifically between January 2, 2023, and March 31, 2024. During this timeframe, Sesay is accused of exploiting his position as the Human Resource Officer at Bloom Bank to misappropriate funds intended for paying electricity bills to EDSA. The gravity of the charges suggests a systematic abuse of trust and authority, which raises alarming questions about the internal controls and oversight mechanisms in place within the bank.
Gbanyah is alleged to have played an instrumental role in facilitating this fraudulent scheme. He is accused of misrepresenting himself by falsely identifying a person named Tamba Pessima as an EDSA agent, thereby orchestrating the payment of NLe 619,000 to this individual. The prosecution claims that this act effectively defrauded the bank, with Gbanyah’s involvement marking a significant breach of trust.
In addition to the charges related to the fraudulent scheme, Gbanyah faces allegations of forging documents about his academic status at CODE. The police assert that he falsified a statement of results bearing his name and ID number, further complicating the already serious case against him. The breadth of these charges indicates a troubling pattern of deceit that extends beyond mere financial fraud.
During the court proceedings, critical testimony was provided by Ernest Ohue, the Chief Internal Auditor of Bloom Bank Africa. Ohue’s testimony shed light on the alleged fraudulent activities, emphasizing the importance of risk management and internal controls within the banking institution. He explained that his responsibilities included investigating financial discrepancies, which ultimately led to the unearthing of the alleged fraud.
Ohue identified Musa Joseph Sesay as a former employee who held the position of Human Resource and Admin Officer until his resignation in August 2024. He also noted that Joshua Gbanyah had initially worked as a dispatch manager before transitioning to an administrative role within the bank. This background information provided the court with crucial context regarding the positions held by the accused and their access to sensitive financial information.
A pivotal incident recounted by Ohue occurred on December 6, 2023, when three officers from EDSA visited Bloom Bank and disconnected the bank’s electricity meter. At that time, the bank was operating on a generator, and the disconnection went unnoticed until further investigations revealed the extent of the financial mismanagement. Ohue stated that a review of CCTV footage confirmed the actions taken by the EDSA officers, raising alarms about the bank’s compliance with its electricity payment obligations.
Following the disconnection incident, Ohue and two other bank officials visited the EDSA office located on Siaka Stevens Street to address the situation. During this visit, they met with Engineer Wurie, the head of auditing at EDSA, who informed them that the bank had previously been invited to discuss a meter interference case. Notably, the invitation had been issued to Joshua Gbanyah, who failed to communicate this critical information to his superiors at the bank.
Ohue presented the original invitation to the court as evidence, underscoring Gbanyah’s negligence in handling the matter. When questioned about his failure to submit the invitation to the Deputy Manager, Gbanyah reportedly claimed that he believed it was an issue he could manage independently. This assertion raised further doubts about his judgment and responsibility in his role at the bank.
Upon discovering that the bank had not purchased any electricity credits—leading to EDSA’s disconnection—Ohue took immediate action. He collected all electronic vouchers for payments made between January 2023 and December 2023, totaling the alleged sum of NLe 619,000, and presented them to EDSA for verification. However, Engineer Wurie examined the vouchers and declared them fraudulent, further implicating both Sesay and Gbanyah in the alleged scheme.
As the court proceedings unfold, they have been adjourned until May 16, 2025, for the continuation of testimony. Both accused individuals remain on bail as the case progresses, and the legal ramifications of their alleged actions continue to develop. This case raises significant concerns about financial oversight within institutions and the potential for internal corruption, underscoring the urgent need for stringent controls to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The implications of this case extend beyond the individuals involved, highlighting the critical importance of transparency and accountability in financial institutions. As the legal process continues, many will be watching closely to see how the court addresses these serious allegations and what measures may be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
