Court Refuses to Extend Injunction Against Zoodlabs Chairman as Dispute With David Kpakima Intensifies

The High Court of Sierra Leone has refused to renew a seven-day interim injunction that restrained Davar Fazaeli from controlling or managing the Rasab Group of companies, which includes Zoodlabs, Metro Cables, and Smart Telecoms.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Tonia Barnett, marks a significant development in the high-stakes battle between Fazaeli, the majority shareholder and Chairman, and David Kpakima, the minority shareholder and suspended Group Chief Operating Officer.

The interim injunction, originally granted on January 9, 2026, expired on Thursday, January 15. It had previously barred Fazaeli from taking actions that could prejudice Kpakima’s interests, including selling assets, rebranding, or overhauling management without due process.

In declining to renew the orders, Justice Barnett stated she was mindful that continuous media reporting on the “fighting between the shareholders” could jeopardize the companies’ operations and negatively affect the interests of all shareholders.

During the proceedings, legal counsel for the plaintiff, Osman Jalloh, applied for the renewal of four of the eleven original orders. Jalloh argued that the defendant had defied the court’s initial mandate, describing the situation as a “hostile takeover.”

Jalloh presented video evidence to the court purported to show that Kpakima was denied access to the company premises by Fazaeli’s personal bodyguard and Operational Support Division (OSD) officers. He argued that Kpakima, a director of the companies, had been locked out of the corporate email system and denied access to management tools, preventing him from executing his duties.

“The defendant violated the petitioner’s rights, including his right to sign cash payments,” Jalloh told the court. He warned that without a renewed order, the exclusion of the petitioner from day-to-day management would continue unchecked.

Representing Davar Fazaeli, lawyer Tuma Adama Jabbi opposed the renewal. While noting that the legal team had not yet fully reviewed the case file since taking over the defense, Jabbi argued that the original court order did not explicitly mandate the reinstatement of Kpakima to his operational role.

The legal tussle stems from a deepening rift within the leadership of the telecommunications group. On December 7, 2025, Fazaeli ordered the immediate suspension of Kpakima following an internal review that allegedly uncovered “monumental mismanagement, fraud, and embezzlement.”

Kpakima, who holds an 18% equity stake in Zoodlabs, has vehemently denied the allegations. He subsequently filed a petition alleging “unfairly prejudicial and oppressive conduct” by the majority shareholder.

The Rasab Group is a critical player in Sierra Leone’s technology sector, with Zoodlabs notably managing the national submarine cable following the unbundling of SALCAB.

The case is scheduled to resume today, Wednesday, January 21, 2026.