By Sahr Eric George
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In a gripping turn of events at the ongoing treason trial, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Paul Fala Nabieu unveiled shocking details regarding the medical ordeal of Major General (Maj. Gen) Dauda Alpha. Testifying as the twenty-fifth prosecution witness, Dr. Nabieu, stationed at the 34 Military Hospital, recounted the fateful events of November 26, 2023, shedding light on Maj. Gen Alpha’s critical condition following a brutal attack.
Describing the chaotic morning, Dr. Nabieu recounted being roused from his residence in Wilberforce by the sound of gunfire around 5:00 am. He swiftly moved to secure his safety. However, his tranquil morning was shattered when he received a distressing call from his junior doctors later that morning. Maj. Gen. Alpha, gravely injured, had been rushed to the 34 Military Hospital.
“I received a call from my juniors who informed me that Maj. Gen. Alpha had been badly hit and needs surgeries urgently,” Dr. Nabieu recounted solemnly.
Upon his arrival at the hospital, Dr. Nabieu was confronted with the grim reality of Maj. Gen. Alpha’s condition. The senior officer lay writhing in pain, bearing two deep wounds and a plaster affixed to his back. Realizing the severity of the situation, Dr. Nabieu swiftly ordered a CT-Scan to assess the extent of the damage. The results revealed a metallic object perilously lodged near Maj. Gen. Alpha’s spine, necessitating immediate specialized treatment abroad.
Undeterred by the logistical challenges, Dr. Nabieu embarked on a frantic mission to secure appropriate medical care for Maj. Gen. Alpha. With meticulous care, he administered antibiotics to counteract potential poisoning from the foreign object, while simultaneously coordinating with hospitals overseas. Eventually, Maj. Gen. Alpha was airlifted to the North-West Nairobi Hospital, where he underwent successful surgeries.
However, the courtroom drama escalated as Pius Sesay, defense counsel for Koita and Bai Mahmoud, raised objections to the tendering of a document on the grounds that when Jalloh asked Nabieu if he had reduced his previous findings about Maj. Gen. Alpha’s condition into a report, he answered no and added that any tendering will be either new or coming from the prosecution rather than the witness. But Jalloh responded that the document was not new and that he only wanted to refresh his witness’ memory which is not wrong.
Justice Komba Kamanda however ruled that Nabieu clearly answered the question by saying ‘no’ and stated that Jalloh’s action of refreshing his witness’ memory was not properly done. He admonished Jalloh to instead make a formal application for his actions.
Jalloh followed Justice Kamanda’s ruling and applied that he should be allowed to refresh Nabieu’s memory of the authenticity of the document before the court.
Upon review, Dr. Nabieu affirmed his authorship of the document, detailing its transmission to the Nairobi hospital. He concluded by revealing Maj. Gen. Alpha’s current status: recuperating at the outpatient and observation ward of the 34 Military Hospital.
With the courtroom abuzz with anticipation, Justice Kamanda adjourned proceedings until Thursday, April 18, 2024, marking another chapter in the unfolding saga of the treason trial. SEG/18/4/2024