IMC Summons Torchlight Editor Over Scandalous Publication on Maada Bio

The Acting editor-in-Chief of the Torchlight Newspaper, Alie Mozart Sesay has been officially summoned to appear before the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Complaints Committee today, to defend his paper’s Wednesday May 27, 2015 edition, in which he claimed that, the SLPP 2012 flag bearer and former Military Head of State, Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio had an amorous relationship with a 16-year-old girl, Edwina Samira Khalil. Miss Khalil, who is one of the complainants in the love and sex scandal, is expected to appear before the same committee today.

She has denied ever having a love relationship with Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio.

She has also denied the paper’s claim that, she was 16 at the time she first solicited financial assistance from Brig.(Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio. She had said in a media release that, she was 18 at the time she asked Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio for financial assistance to further her education.

Another complainant in the matter, the former Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, former Foreign Minister, former Presidential candidate of the PPP in 1996 and current Regional Chairman, North of the main opposition SLPP, Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu is also expected to appear at the IMC today as a complainant in the same matter against the Torchlight newspaper and its Acting Editor-in-Chief.

The paper had referred to Dr. Abass Bundu, a highly respected citizen in the ECOWAS community as a Pimp. Dr. Bundu is demanding the paper’s editor to establish before the IMC why he was referred to as such. Dr. Bundu told the Global Times last week that the Acting Editor will also have to prove his allegation against him in a court of law. He plans to take both civil and criminal action against the paper and its Acting Editor, Alie Mozart Sesay.

It is not yet known whether the complaint filed by Lawyers acting for Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio against the Torchlight Newspaper will also be heard today.

The IMC is now seen as a robust commission, especially after the appointment of Ambassador Allieu Kanu as Chairman of the Commission