The ongoing fraud case alleging the theft of nearly Le20 million from Access Bank Sierra Leone took a significant turn Wednesday as the head of Orange Money Sierra Leone provided key testimony in court.
David Solomon Musa, the Head of Orange Money Operations at Orange Mobile Finance Limited, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court N.2. He identified the first accused and detailed how the alleged crime unfolded.
Six individuals are charged in connection with the case, accused of conspiracy to defraud and larceny. They include businesspeople Yusif Turay, Ishmael Nat Thomas, Hassan Gibrill Kargbo, Alhaji Santigie Sesay, Sheriff Osman Sankoh, and an agent named Ibrahim Thullah. All defendants appeared in court but did not enter a plea.
According to the charges, the alleged offense occurred between March 24 and 25, 2025, at various Access Bank branches across Freetown. It is claimed that the accused conspired to unlawfully withdraw a total of Le19,878,360 from an Orange Money account operated by Orange Mobile Finance Limited.
During proceedings, Musa explained that on March 25, he received a call from Alhaji Thorley, Orange Money’s Head of Finance, who reported that a deposit had been made into their Access Bank account on the previous day.
However, upon checking, Musa and his team found that the funds had not been credited. He recounted that they visited the bank’s headquarters, where they reviewed the account activity. It was during this review that they identified unauthorized withdrawals linked to the accused, including transactions at the Congo Cross branch. Musa pointed out that the first accused was present during some of these transactions and reportedly admitted to making prior withdrawals.
Musa further stated that he provided the bank’s account manager and IT department with a list of agent numbers involved in the suspicious transactions for verification. The accused’s explanation was that he had previously conducted transactions and was continuing to do so, a response that raised suspicions among investigators.
The court adjourned the case to June 24, 2025. Bail arrangements are currently ongoing, and cross-examination was deferred at the request of the defence.
The trial continues as authorities seek justice in what is described as a significant financial crime with serious implications for Sierra Leone’s banking sector.
