IGP Sellu Wins Private Civil Suit Against Radio Democracy

Judgment was delivered in the High Court of Sierra Leone (General Civil Division) presided by Justice Momoh Jah Stevens JA, on 21 July 2023, in a private civil matter instituted by the Inspector General of Police – William Fayia Sellu (Plaintiff/Applicant), against 1″ – Defendant Radio Democracy 98.1 and 2nd Defendant – Alex Lawrence Koroma.

It could be recalled that on the 23 day of May, 2023, Radio Democracy 98.1 aired on the “Good Morning Salone” programme slanderous staements against the Inspector General of Police as follows:

1. That William Fayia Sellu, the Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police is intimidating and using his power to take advantage of poor people at Lebbie Village, Sussex, Freetown;

2. That William Fayia Sellu is using OSD personnel to harass and intimidate community people for a land at Lebbie Village, Sussex, Freetown;

   Related News

   • Adolescent and Youth Mechanism Supports the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Act
   • Sierra Leone Police Tops Regional Cybersecurity Training Course
   • Government Assures Protection for Citizens Amid Diplomatic Tensions with Guinea

3. That William Fayia Sellu ordered OSD personnel to arrest and detain a certain Samuel Mathew Kargbo; and

4. That this matter has further shown the ‘Yuki Yuki’ of the Sierra Leone Police headed by the Plaintiff/Applicant.

Against this backdrop, on 7 ^ (uh) July 2023, MrWilliam Fayia Sellu (Inspector General of Police), through his lawyers filed a Writ of Summons in the High Court of Sierra Leone (General Civil Division) against the 1st and 2 ^ (nd) defendants, seeking redress for slanderous claims made against his person.

The matter came up for hearing and Counsel representing the 1st and 2 ^ (nd) defendants on diverse dates made appearances in Court on their behalf, but failed to file a Defence or Counterclaim to the said action, presupposing that the Defendants/Respondents did not have a Defence, thus submitting themselves to the Claims made in the Writ of Summons instituted by the Plaintiff/Applicant (William Fayia Sellu).

In view thereof, Justice Momoh Jah Stevens (JA) entered final judgment for the Plaintiff/Applicant (William Fayia Sellu – Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police), pursuant to Order 22 Rule 3 of the High Court Rules 2007 in Default of Defence to the Writ of Summons instituted by the Plaintiff against the Defendants, as follows:

1. This Court Orders Damages against 1 ^ (st) and 2 ^ (nd) Defendants/Respondents for Slander contained in an aired program (Broadcast) at Radio Democracy FM 98.1 on the 23 ^ (rd) day of May 2023, against and concerning the Plaintiff/Applicant

2. This Honourable Court orders the Defendants herein forthwith using the same Radio Democracy FM 98.1 to retract the broadcast and circulated slanderous and defamatory statements in Krio Language, the content of which should be procured by the Plaintiff and approved by this Court.

3. This Honourable Court orders the Defendants herein to tender apology for the Defamatory and Slanderous Statement against the personality and credibility of the Plaintiff/Applicant herein.

4. This Honourable Court orders an Injunction against the Defendants herein from broadcasting the same defamatory and scandalous statements.

5. This Honourable Court, the High Court of Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone hereby declare that the Plaintiff/Applicant is a respecter of the Rule of Law and Human Rights as exhibited in his action to follow the due process in the instant case.