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Court Sets Ecobank’s US$700,000 Libel Case For December 23

By Precious D. Freeman  

The Civil Law Court for Montserrado County has scheduled December 23, 2024, as the opening date for a $700,000 damages case filed by Wilmot Smith, the dismissed former Deputy Director General for Information Coordination at the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LIGIS), against Ecobank Liberia Limited and its former employee, Yussif S. Kromah.

Smith is seeking $500,000 in general damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. 

The lawsuit alleges that Kromah, while employed by Ecobank, released misinformation implicating Smith in the illegal withdrawal of funds intended to pay enumerators for the Population Census. 

According to the suit, Kromah unlawfully shared bank statements from LIGIS accounts with Alex Williams, an employee of LIGIS and a partner on the Spoon Talk Show.  

These statements were allegedly used to accuse Smith of diverting funds for personal benefit. Smith’s lawyer, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, claims the statements were manipulated to damage Smith’s reputation. 

The court records further state that Kromah admitted in an affidavit dated March 30, 2023, that he acted improperly.  

Ecobank subsequently dismissed Kromah on January 19, 2023, but Smith’s legal team argues that the bank remains liable for Kromah’s actions under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers accountable for the actions of their employees conducted during the course of employment.

Smith’s lawsuit contends that the defendants’ actions were deliberate and calculated to harm his reputation.

The suit accuses Ecobank and its co-defendants, including Spoon TV and its proprietor Stanton Witherspoon, of engaging in defamatory activities through radio broadcasts, print publications, and other forums.

“The defendants’ actions were intended to expose the plaintiff to public ridicule, danger, and harm,” the suit alleges. 

“These wrongful acts have caused irreparable damage to the plaintiff’s reputation and standing both nationally and internationally.”

The lawsuit highlights Smith’s public service career and his ability to engage with local and international partners as being significantly impacted by the defamatory statements.

Smith’s legal team argues further that Ecobank failed to properly address the harm caused by its employee, opting instead for a “cosmetic approach” by dismissing Kromah after the damage had already been done. 

They claim that Ecobank bears full responsibility for the actions of its employee, as the alleged misconduct occurred during working hours and within the bank’s premises.

According to the court summons, Ecobank and its co-defendants risk a default judgment if they fail to appear at the hearing.  

The plaintiff is pushing for accountability not only for the financial damages but also for the harm to his reputation and personal security. 

The scheduled hearing comes at a critical time as Liberia continues to grapple with issues of accountability and trust in both public and private institutions.

 The case has garnered significant public attention, with many viewing it as a test of the legal system’s ability to address alleged abuses by powerful entities. The outcome of the hearing on December 23 could have far-reaching implications for corporate accountability and defamation cases.

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