As Government Vows to Investigate Diplomatic Passport Scandal… Will It Be Another Bolle Jos Buff Case?

By Kelvin Jay

As the Government of Sierra Leone vows to investigate the alleged issuance of a diplomatic passport to convicted drug criminal Abdullah Alp Ustun, recently arrested in Turkey, citizens are expressing growing skepticism. Many are questioning whether this latest inquiry will lead to genuine accountability or simply become another “Bolle Jos / Umar Sheriff Buff” case—a controversy that faded without resolution.

Earlier this year, news broke about Jos Leijdekkers, a notorious Dutch drug lord allegedly hiding in Sierra Leone. Public outrage erupted after photographs surfaced purportedly showing him attending official events and posing with President Julius Maada Bio and his family. In response, the Ministry of Information issued a press release on January 26, 2025, denying receipt of any official complaint from foreign authorities but confirming that the government had launched a “thorough investigation” to establish the facts.

The Ministry further stated that the Sierra Leone Police stood ready to cooperate with the Dutch Government, Interpol, and other international law enforcement agencies. That assurance initially calmed public concern, renewing hope that the truth would eventually be uncovered.

However, the investigation quickly lost momentum. Police later identified the individual seen in viral videos as Umar Sheriff, allegedly using the alias Jos Leijdekkers. During a press briefing, police officials confirmed that while they had conducted searches for Umar Sheriff, they were uncertain about his current whereabouts and noted that his name did not appear in any official entry record into Sierra Leone. Despite an extradition request from the Dutch authorities, the government has not clarified his location—fueling doubts about the sincerity of the investigation, especially given his alleged connections to influential circles within the presidency.

Fast forward to the Kush epidemic which continues to devastate communities, President Bio in his April 4, 2024 national address declared a “War on Drugs and Substance Abuse”, announcing the establishment of a National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse, supervised by a Presidential Advisory Team. The President emphasized that “our fight against Kush should be a collective effort.”

More than a year later, however, no findings or reports have been made public by the Task Force. Critics are now questioning whether the President ever referred the Bolle Jos investigation to this committee—particularly given the existence of video evidence showing the EU’s Most Wanted Drug Fugitive socializing with former Immigration Bosses Alusine Kanneh and Andrew Kaikai at Lor Restaurant. If the matter was indeed referred to the Task Force, what were its findings?

Now, with a new scandal surrounding the alleged diplomatic passport issued to Abdullah Alp Ustun, citizens fear a repeat of history. The Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID), in its October 13, 2025 public notice, stated that it views the allegations with “utmost seriousness” and has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine how the individual obtained the passport, verify the authenticity of the supporting documents, and identify any procedural failures or misconduct.

Yet, this assurance stands in stark contrast to comments made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, on AYV’s Morning Show, where he dismissed the allegations as false, insisting that unless those making the claims could produce the passport’s serial number, there would be no basis for an investigation. His remarks directly contradict SLID’s official statement confirming that an investigation is already underway.

This inconsistency between the two ministries has heightened public suspicion. Critics are now asking:
• What exactly is the scope and methodology of the Immigration Department’s investigation if the Foreign Affairs Minister has already declared the claims false?
• What prompted SLID to proceed with an investigation despite the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s denial?
• Who are the persons of interest in this probe?
• And most importantly, will this investigation yield concrete results, or will it fade into silence—just like the Bolle Jos / Umar Sheriff Buff case?

For many Sierra Leoneans, the issue has moved beyond allegations—it’s about transparency, consistency, and accountability in governance. Citizens are demanding not just promises, but an immediate and credible report from the Government of Sierra Leone on the findings of the ongoing investigation.