By Precious D. Freeman
Alex Williams, a co-defendant in a high-profile libel lawsuit totaling US$700,000, has submitted a formal response to the Civil Law Court, denying allegations that he facilitated the unauthorized leakage of sensitive account details from the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) at Ecobank Liberia Limited.
Williams, former Deputy Director General for Statistics and Data Processing, is accused of manipulating information to discredit Wilmot Smith, former Deputy Director for Information and Coordination at LISGIS.
Smith has filed a lawsuit against Ecobank, Williams, and Martin Kollie, claiming defamation stemming from media publications disseminated to Spoon TV that implicated him in the illegal withdrawal of US$1.7 million from LISGIS’s account.
In his response, Williams asserts that he was among the legitimate signatories to the account, which was established for the 2008 National Population and Housing Census.
He names other signatories, including the Director General and two other officials, and cites his position as Principal Deputy to the Director General under the LISGIS Act.
Williams contends that he is not a spokesperson for Ecobank and denies any involvement with the bank’s Reconciliation Officer, Yussif Kromah, who allegedly leaked the information.
He emphasized his compliance with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (LACC) investigation into financial improprieties at LISGIS, stating that he provided evidence and documentation supporting his account of the events.
The investigation alleges that Williams improperly shared account details with Spoon TV, a widely recognized media platform, and used the information to further tarnish Smith’s reputation.
However, Williams refutes these claims, arguing that Smith lacks the legal standing to assert that he unlawfully obtained bank statements, as only LISGIS has the right to pursue such claims.
Furthermore, Williams claims that the investigation into the matter was thorough and public, culminating in a press conference by the LACC attended by foreign dignitaries and media representatives, including those from Spoon TV.
As the case proceeds, it will address critical issues of accountability, media ethics, and the legal implications of financial disclosures within governmental institutions.
The court is expected to examine the credibility of the allegations against Williams and the broader implications for those involved in the ongoing investigation.
