Court Grants David Kpakima Interim Protection in High-Profile Telecoms Dispute

In a recent ruling by the High Court of Sierra Leone, David Kpakima, a minority shareholder and Group Chief Operating Officer of Zoodlabs (SL) Limited, Metro Cable (SL) Limited, and Smart Telecoms Limited, has been granted interim protection in his ongoing dispute with major shareholder Davar Fazaeli.

The case centres on a petition filed by Kpakima, who alleges unfairly prejudicial and oppressive conduct by Fazaeli and others involved in the management of the telecommunications companies.

Kpakima’s petition asserts that his rights and interests as a shareholder have been threatened by decisions made by the majority shareholder and other parties affiliated with Fazaeli.

Following a motion filed on December 8, 2025, and after reviewing accompanying affidavits, the Court, presided over by the Honourable Mrs. Justice Tonia Barnett, granted several interim injunctions.

The Court’s ruling includes measures to restrain Fazaeli and his associates from taking actions that could negatively impact Kpakima’s interests in the companies.

The Court ordered that the respondents, including Fazaeli, be restrained from dealing with or transferring shares, assets, or rights that affect Kpakima’s stake in the second to fourth respondents.

Furthermore, the respondents are prohibited from taking actions to rebrand, alter management structures, or make any changes to key appointments within the companies without due process.

Among other measures, the Court ruled that the supermarket account of Kpakima’s company, Monoprix, be restored immediately. Additionally, two telephone lines terminated by Orange Sierra Leone were to be reinstated, and security personnel were to be provided to Kpakima.

The ruling emphasizes that if it is later found that these interim measures should not have been granted, the respondents may be liable for damages.

The Court’s decision, announced on January 9, 2026, comes after a lengthy legal battle involving Kpakima’s efforts to safeguard his shareholder rights against what he claims to be oppressive actions by Fazaeli and his associates.