United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone has commended the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Judiciary for what it described as a major victory in the fight against financial misconduct, following the conviction of its former Head of Operations, Frederick Caulker, over the misappropriation of public funds intended for the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
In a statement released after the conclusion of the matter, UBA Sierra Leone Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, praised the ACC and the Court for what he called the speed and diligence with which the case was handled. The bank’s public response followed a formal communication from the Anti-Corruption Commission dated January 19, 2026, confirming that the proceedings had been successfully concluded.
Frederick Caulker, a resident of No. 38A Taylor Street, Wellington, Freetown, was found guilty on four counts of corruption linked to the diversion of funds said to be close to two billion old Leones. The money involved included PAYE and withholding taxes paid by the Small Holder Commercialization Agri-Business Development Project (SCADeP), which were meant to be deposited into a designated National Revenue Authority account but were allegedly redirected through unauthorized channels while he served as United Bank for Africa’s Head of Operations.
Court proceedings revealed that the irregular transactions raised immediate concern within the bank, prompting internal action and a formal report to the Anti-Corruption Commission. Following the discovery and the bank’s swift escalation of the matter, Frederick Caulker reportedly fled to the United States, where his family had relocated but the Anti-Corruption Commission maintained pursuit of the case and pushed the matter through to conclusion despite his absence.
In delivering judgement, the Honourable Judge handed down a stiff sentence of 40 years imprisonment, structured as 10 years on each of the four counts to run consecutively. The Court also provided an alternative option of a fine of NLe 100,000 per count, amounting to NLe 400,000 in total. In addition, the Court ordered restitution in the sum of NLe 1,980,233.40, representing the full amount stolen, to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Reacting publicly to the conviction, Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, restated the Commission’s determination to pursue corruption cases to their logical end, warning that individuals who abuse public resources will not escape accountability. Posting on social media, Francis Ben Kaifala declared: “We will not allow him to enjoy his criminality ever happily after.” The Anti-Corruption Commission further disclosed plans to arrest and extradite Frederick Caulker, while also pursuing the sale of his Wellington property, which it said his father had wrongfully claimed ownership of.
United Bank for Africa Sierra Leone, in reaffirming its commitment to corporate governance and accountability, said its proactive reporting played a critical role in securing the outcome and demonstrating the bank’s refusal to tolerate misconduct involving public funds. Mohamed Alhajie Samoura said the verdict validates the institution’s internal control systems and its insistence on integrity, stressing that the bank would never compromise on transparency and accountability.
“This verdict validates the strength of our internal control systems and our refusal to compromise on integrity. By proactively reporting this anomaly, UBA has demonstrated that we remain a transparent institution where public funds are secure and where accountability is non-negotiable,” Mohamed Alhajie Samoura said.
The conviction has been widely described as a strong deterrent and a clear signal of Sierra Leone’s continued push to safeguard public revenue, strengthen transparency and ensure that individuals who abuse financial systems are held fully accountable under the law, regardless of position, status or attempts to evade justice.
