Court Orders U.S Based Sierra Leonean to Pay Le1.5bn in Damages For Defamatory Social Media Posts
Aaron Parker In a recent legal ruling, Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens, delivered a significant judgment against Kutubu Koroma, a resident in Maryland, USA. Koroma was directed to pay a hefty compensation of NLe1,500,000 (Le, 1,500,000,000) to the Plaintiffs, John Akar Foundation, and Yada Williams Esq.
The court found Koroma’s social media publications on ‘Salone Tok Forum’ to be libelous and defamatory against the Plaintiffs. Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens explicitly stated, “This Honourable Court orders the Defendant herein Kutubu Koroma to pay for and cause to be published in conspicuous places of three widely read newspapers in Sierra Leone and on all social media platforms a retraction and an apology for the said libel, the context of which should be procured by the Plaintiffs.”
Additionally, the court issued an injunction, effectively restraining Kutubu Koroma and any associated individuals from further disseminating the alleged libel or any other material regarding the Plaintiffs.
The legal proceedings, initiated through a Writ of Summons dated October 26, 2022, were in response to the Plaintiffs’ claim for damages due to two separate articles authored and published by Koroma in various social media forums.
This verdict underscores the legal ramifications of online publications and serves as a reminder of the responsibility individuals hold for their statements made on social media platforms