By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, July 9, 2025 — In a major step toward financial accountability, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has officially returned One Million New Leones (equivalent to 1 Billion old Leones) to the Freetown City Council (FCC) following the successful recovery of misappropriated public funds.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala made the presentation at a ceremony held at the Commission’s Integrity House conference room. The funds were part of a larger amount—Three Million New Leones (3 Billion old Leones)—allegedly siphoned through the FCC Football Club account in a scheme involving council employees and bank staff.
Commissioner Kaifala highlighted the ACC’s investigative findings, emphasizing evidence of internal collusion within the banking sector and affirming that the symbolic amount handed over marks the beginning of full restitution.
Receiving the cheque, Freetown Mayor Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr expressed deep appreciation for the ACC’s efforts, praising its investigative rigor and transparency. She affirmed that the ACC’s legal authority was key to exposing the scale of the fraud, and stressed that the issue transcends money—it reinforces accountability across public institutions.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr noted that FCC’s partnership with the ACC was collaborative rather than adversarial, and should serve as a blueprint for institutional synergy. She revealed plans to allocate the recovered funds to a public-facing development project, crediting the ACC for enabling seed investment through its recovery efforts.
The ACC’s recovery and return of stolen funds marks another victory in Sierra Leone’s fight against corruption. As the Commission continues to pursue full restitution, this milestone sends a strong message: public misconduct will be uncovered, prosecuted, and redressed—financially and ethically.