Henry P. Costa, head of the Council of Patriots (CoP has reportedly departed Sierra Leone via Royal Air Morac airline to the United States of America after the government of Sierra Leone rejected call from the Liberian government to extradite him to Liberia to face justice over fake traveling document.
Mr. Costa was detained late Tuesday by Sierra Leonean immigration authorities while trying to board flight to Turkey and was briefly place in a protected custody for questioning.
In an interview with the voice of America on Wednesday Mr. Costa said the authorities in Sierra Leone were treating him well and was even allowed to use his phone while in Sierra Leone.
The government of Liberia had earlier requested that Mr. Costa be extradited to Liberia on allegation that he used fake laissez passer to enter the country, a claim he denies.
Failed diplomatic channel
Liberia Minister of information Cultural and Tourism, Lenn -Eugene Nagbe told BBC focus on Africa Program on Wednesday January 15, 2020 that the government of Liberia was preparing diplomatic note to ensure that the head of the Council of Patriots is brought back to the country to face justice.
Mr. Nagbe indicated that was necessary to go after Mr. Costa because of Liberia’s recent history where travel documents are being used for illegal activities.
Mr. Nagbe: “We are concerned not just about this particular incident but all of the other laws Mr. Costa has committed. We have submitted to the Sierra Leonean government through the proper procedures and we are available for this to be discussed in open court”, he adds.
“Our government has remained transparent, we have always followed the rule of law, even in our own country, where the code of conduct has ruled against Mr. President and he has abided by the decision of the court”, Nagbe told BBC’s Hassan Arouni.
Sierra Leone, a sovereign nation
At the same time the government of Sierra Leone says it does not take dictation from other country to extradite anyone without officially being charged.
Mohammed R. Swaray, Minister of information and communication told the BBC that the right of Mr. Henry Costa was respected while he was in the country because the government of President Julius Maada Bio respects every person right.
“We just want to ensure that we fulfill his rights, he himself can attest to that, he’s been very well treated, we cannot take dictation from any other government, we’re a democracy, we value that”, Minister Swaray said in an interview.
Multiple sources told Liberia Public Radio early Thursday January 16, 2020 that Mr. Henry Costa has already left Free Town, Sierra Leone and he is on his way to the United States where he has been attending a University in the state of Delware.
There has been no comment from Mr. Costa so far on his current location.
