By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope
In a significant legal decision, the Court of Appeal has ruled that politician Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray defamed businessman Kobi Walker, ordering him to pay NLe 250,000 in damages, along with NLe 50,000 in legal costs.
Delivering the judgment, Justice A.T. Ganda stated that an audio message circulated by Kamarainba on WhatsApp and other social media platforms on February 2, 2025, constituted libel against Walker. “This Court declares that the audio recording concerning the Plaintiff (Kobi Walker), authored and published by the Defendant (Kamarainba), amounts to libel,” Justice Ganda affirmed.
In addition to the financial penalties, the court mandated Kamarainba to publish a formal retraction and apology in three widely read national newspapers. Furthermore, he is required to remove all related audio recordings, posts, and written statements about Walker from platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and any other online accounts.
To deter further defamatory actions, the court issued a perpetual injunction prohibiting Kamarainba and his associates from creating or disseminating any defamatory content regarding Walker in any form.
Walker hailed the ruling as a “victory for justice,” emphasizing that it sends a strong message against online defamation and safeguards the rights of future generations.
This decision underscores the growing willingness of Sierra Leone’s judiciary to tackle defamation cases associated with social media, reinforcing accountability for harmful online publications.
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