Sylvia Blyden Reacts to Christian Sesay

Dear Editor,

I have read Christian Foday Sesay’s (CFS) latest lengthy piece of January 30th 2010 and try as hard as I can, I have been unable to really grasp what is his motivation for that piece entitled “A Rejoinder to Sylvia Blyden”. [CLICK HERE FOR IT]

He is a young man whose articles I have respected even when I have not agreed with some of them. Similarly, I do believe he commands some respect from other patriots with like-minds to mine. This is why I am taking time off to clear the air.

For the benefit of your readers, I am reproducing below, email correspondence between CFS and I and also the ones exchanged between myself and the Honourable Commissioner Abdul Tejan-Cole so the public can judge. The exchange between me and the ACC Boss is in blue and the one between me and CFS is inked in red. I have already received permission from the ACC Boss to publish our email exchanges in order to set the records straight.

Respectful Regards,

Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden.

Here goes:

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From: DR SYLVIA BLYDEN

To: PV CHRISTIAN FODAY SESAY

Sent: Tue, January 12, 2010 8:30:15 PM

Subject: ABDUL TEJAN COLE'S REACTION TO THREAT STORY

Hi Christian, please see the article below. It is self-explanatory. I have been so tied up with developments here in Freetown that I had been unable to email you a response that Abdul had debunked your article. Anyway, in the wake of a vicious attack on Abdul's personality by a local newspaper man that Abdul put you up to writing the initial article, we have had to run the story below which I am emailling a copy to you in advance as a courtesy.

Kind regards

Sylvia Blyden

COURTESY ARTICLE FOR CHRISTIAN TO READ IN ADVANCE OF PUBLICATION HERE FOLLOWS:

The Honourable Commissioner of the Anti Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, Abdul Tejan Cole Esq. has told Awareness Times newspaper via an exclusive electronic interview that he has not fled Sierra Leone nor was his life threatened at any point in time as was being speculated in the media.

“My life was never threatened. I have not fled nor have I resigned. People are always speculating,” Tejan Cole informed.

He strongly insisted that he had not been subjected to any threat on his life over the NRA investigations that warranted him being given extra security by the President.  

“They are preposterous and false,” Tejan Cole stated of the speculative articles as he asked of all concerned to just ignore those speculative articles. He gave assurance that he would soon be back in Sierra Leone.

Media reports had first of all stated that Tejan-Cole’s life was in danger over his investigation of the NRA’s Alieu Sesay. However, yesterday, a section of the media openly accused Tejan-Cole of seeking an international appointment and thus planting articles in the media claiming his life was in danger to make way for an alleged resignation he was planning.  

In contrast, Awareness Times can confirm that as far back as Thursday January 7th 2010, we had received in response to a query from us, an immediate email response from Commissioner Tejan-Cole that the initial media article by one Christian Foday Sesay Jnr. was “totally false and without merit”.  

Awareness Times was the newspaper first chosen on Wednesday 6th January 2010 by Mr. Christian Sesay Jnr. to run the article but the strong denial from Tejan-Cole had guided us not to run the article. Unfortunately, several other papers went ahead to run the allegations without first crosschecking.

In summary, Abdul Tejan-Cole is not in fear for his life, has not fled Sierra Leone and has not resigned from the Anti Corruption Commission. #END

----NEXT SET OF CORRESPONDENCE----

Subject: DEBUNKED.. RE: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Coleþ

From:  DR SYLVIA BLYDEN (blydenso@hotmail.com) 

Sent: Wed 1/13/10 2:20 AM

To:  abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Commissioner,

I have done as you requested.

http://www.news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200514209.shtml

Please visit the link above and also it is on front page of awareness times tomorrow (wednesday 13th).  [One local] Newspaper ran a scathing article about you being the one who planted the initial articles by Christian Foday Sesay because you wanted to prepare the minds of the public for your alleged upcoming resignation to take up an international job.

Stay blessed

Sylvia Blyden.

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Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:14:14 -0800

From: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Subject: Re: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

To: blydenso@hotmail.com

Sylvia, please debunk it...

Abdul Tejan-Cole

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Tel: + 232 22 22XXXX

Fax: +232 22 221900

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From: DR SYLVIA BLYDEN

To: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Sent: Mon, 11 January, 2010 14:37:10

Subject: RE: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

That Article from the gentleman in Texas alleging of you fearing for your life has made front page of exclusive newspaper this morning.

Can I run a story to debunk the allegation or should I continue to ignore it as you had asked?

Stay blessed!

Sylvia Blyden.

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Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:20:32 -0800

From: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Subject: Re: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

To: blydenso@hotmail.com

My life was never threatened. I have not fled nor have I resigned. People are always speculating.

Abdul Tejan-Cole

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Tel: + 232 22 22XXXX

Fax: +232 22 221900

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From: DR SYLVIA BLYDEN

To: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Sent: Sat, 9 January, 2010 15:59:16

Subject: RE: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

COMMISSIONER, SORRY FOR LATE RESPONSE. BEEN SO TIED UP. WILL IGNORE IT BUT YOU MIGHT WISH TO CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK

http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/spip.php?article4936

BESTS,

Sylvia Blyden.

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Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 03:43:17 -0800

From: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Subject: Re: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

To: blydenso@hotmail.com

The news of my life being threatened is totally false. Please ignore it. Those allegations are without merit... They are preposterous and false...

Abdul Tejan-Cole

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Tel: + 232 22 22XXXX

Fax: +232 22 221900

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From: DR SYLVIA BLYDEN

To: abdul tejan-cole (**********@yahoo.com)

Sent: Fri, 8 January, 2010 3:41:34

Subject: FW: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

Commissioner, See below... Sounds serious IF IT IS TRUE. Just landed in town. What's really going on? Do not think Sierra Leone wants to lose our Knight in shining armour to any assassin...

Any comments? On or off the record?

Sylvia Blyden.

---------- FORWARDED CORRESPONDENCE FOLLOWS ---------

From: blydenso@hotmail.com

To: fodlam2006@yahoo.com

Subject: RE: Breaking news! Life of Abdul Tejan-Cole

Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 03:38:30 +0000

Hi Foday,

I do remember you. I am only reading this email now at 3:30am. I just returned to Freetown less than 24 hours ago and have not yet had time to settle in at newspaper office. I will look into this allegation and get back to you. Thanks for thinking of Awareness Times to publish it. If true, it is surely chilling.

Happy New Year to you too.

Sylvia Blyden.

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Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:03:02 -0800

From: fodlam2006@yahoo.com

Subject: Breaking news!

To: editor@news.sl

Happy New year Sylvia,

I hope you remember me. I just received this chilling information from an insider and I will love for it to go out. You can attached his pics if you have any as I do not have any current one here with me. Thanks

Christian Foday Sesay, PV Correspondent in Texas

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Anti-Corruption Commissioner Fears for his Life

by

Christian Foday Sesay Jnr, PV Correspondent, Texas

It has been learnt from a reliable source that the Anti Corruption Commissioner’s office was vandalized and broke into early this week by some unknown criminals and enemies of progress in Sierra Leone.  According to the source, the main reason behind this week’s thuggish break-in was to steal physical evidences which the commissioner has acquired in the on-going case against Commissioner-General Alieu Sesay, National Revenue Authority (NRA) and his partners-in-crime.

According to the same source, it was disclosed that numerous death threats were made on the ACC boss, Mr. Abdul Tejan-Cole and that a current plan was on the making to assassinate him.  The source said, “knowing his steadfastness for truth and justice, he is calm, composed and determined more than ever to show the world that the confidence repose in him by the government and the people of Sierra Leone will be acted upon to its fullest” and went on “Mr. Tejan-Cole will continue to do his work and will not be deterred”.

It may be recalled that ACC has for some months been probing into the activities of the Commissioner-General Alieu Sesay of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The allegations that were reported against him include inter alia misappropriation of public funds, misappropriation of donor funds, abuse of office, abuse of position, and corrupt acquisition of wealth, fraudulent or willful or negligent failure to comply with procurement laws or procedures and conflict of interest.

The President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai-Koroma has called for Mr. Abdul Tejan-Cole to be given a free access to all documents and witnesses pertaining to this case so as to bring it to a speedy conclusion. He has yet again demonstrated his intention to rid his administration of that free-for-all (Gbashi-Gbashi) phenomenon that has ripped the nation of its vast resources when he directed Mr. Allieu Sesay, Commissioner-General, NRA to proceed on leave with immediate effect pending the determination of the investigations

Mr. President, notwithstanding your leadership in returning Sierra Leone back to financial sanity and economic prosperity, the people of Sierra Leone will be watching earnestly to see what security apparatus you will put in place to protect the life of Mr. Abdul Tejan-Cole.  At a time when you have someone like him who is fearless in his quest to reducing corruption in the society, it is expedient that part of your government’s priority should be to make sure it protects the goose that lay the golden egg by providing first class security.

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