Octéa Limited, parent company of Koidu Limited, has formally threatened legal action against Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, accusing her of unlawful interference, defamation, incitement, and actions that have allegedly inflicted severe financial and reputational damage on the company and the country.

In a letter dated May 6, 2025, and addressed to the Office of the First Lady, Octéa’s Acting General Counsel and Director alleged that Dr. Bio’s public conduct, including what it describes as the unlawful promotion of a strike and false statements, has caused “a crisis that now poses a direct threat to public order, lives, investor security, and Sierra Leone’s international standing.”

Octéa highlighted Koidu Limited’s longstanding contributions to the country since its establishment in 2003, including US$173 million paid in taxes and royalties, US$320 million spent with local suppliers, US$21 million in resettlement funding, and US$15 million in community development projects.

The company claimed it had employed over 1,000 Sierra Leoneans directly and supported more than 10,000 jobs indirectly, making it one of the largest private employers in the country.

Related News

The letter also cited the 2025 Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) report, which confirms that Koidu made the highest tax contribution in the extractive sector and was fully compliant with all national labor regulations.

Octéa accused the First Lady of inciting and leading illegal strike actions in violation of Sierra Leone’s Industrial Relations & Trade Union Act 2023 and the Collective Bargaining Agreement 2022–2025.

The company argued that its operations have been law-abiding and that her involvement in labor matters overstepped legal bounds, especially without holding any formal authority to represent Koidu workers.

“You publicly stated that you ‘controlled’ our workforce and that only you can tell them to return to work,” the letter states, adding that this assertion was both unlawful and destabilizing.

The company also rebutted allegations made by Dr. Bio about poor working conditions, arguing that the concerns had already been addressed through inspections and that wages and allowances had been significantly increased.

It said its lowest-paid workers earned more than three times the national minimum wage, and that the company provided comprehensive health and welfare benefits to employees and their families.

Octéa expressed particular concern over what it termed the First Lady’s misrepresentation of the company’s operations, use of hearsay evidence, and public insinuations of corruption, which it said were “without basis” and contradicted findings by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The company also alleged that the First Lady’s team fraudulently collected workers’ signatures under the guise of distributing rice, then used those signatures to falsely claim mass resignations and demand end-of-service payments.

Perhaps most concerning to the company was the First Lady’s alleged suggestion that Koidu should “close the mine and leave Kono” if it did not meet her demands. Octéa claims this, along with threats to blockade and storm the mine site, led to heightened tension and mirrored past unrest at the mine, which in previous years resulted in violence and fatalities.

“Your continued incitement of hostility and provocation of unrest presented a clear and immediate threat to life and safety,” the letter emphasized.

Octéa indicated it would proceed with legal action if the situation is not resolved and called on the First Lady to cease all engagement with Koidu personnel and operations, insisting that all interactions must go through legally recognized institutions.