Freetown, 22 January 2026 — United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone has commended the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the judiciary for securing the conviction of the bank’s former Head of Operations, Frederick Caulker, in a case involving the misappropriation of nearly two billion leones in public funds.
In a statement, UBA’s Managing Director and CEO, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, praised the swift and thorough handling of the matter, emphasizing the bank’s pivotal role in exposing the fraud. Caulker, who diverted PAYE and withholding taxes from the National Revenue Authority’s SCADeP account into unauthorized channels, fled the country after the irregularities were reported.
“This verdict validates our internal control systems and underscores our unwavering commitment to integrity,” Samoura said. “By promptly reporting this issue, UBA demonstrated that we operate with transparency and that accountability is non-negotiable.”
The High Court sentenced Caulker to a total of 40 years in prison—10 years on each of four counts—or a cumulative fine of Le400,000, and ordered restitution of the exact stolen amount, Le1,980,233.40, to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala, in a statement, reaffirmed zero tolerance for corruption and announced plans to extradite Caulker and recover associated assets, including a property in Wellington.
UBA highlighted the case as a demonstration of the importance of cooperation between the private sector and regulatory authorities in protecting public funds. The bank’s leadership reiterated that such vigilance not only protects depositors and the public but also strengthens Sierra Leone’s financial system.
“We are committed to being a transparent institution where public funds are secure, and where breaches of trust are not tolerated,” Samoura added.
The conviction marks a significant milestone for both corporate governance in Sierra Leone and the fight against corruption in the banking sector.
