Monrovia – In the midst of several verbal attacks on FrontPage Africa and its Managing Editor, Rodney D. Sieh, for its critical stance on the government, the offices of FPA was at the verge of closure Monday, following a civil lawsuit for actions of damages of over one million United States Dollars.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected] and Al Varney Rogers, [email protected]
Editors, reporters and other staffs of FPA, including the janitor, were dragged out thier offices on Monday morning by Court Sheriffs, who claimed they had strict orders to arrest all staff within FPA’s premises. These court officials were seen inspecting FPA offices and the printing press as if they were also under orders to search the facilities.
Upon arrival at the Civil Law Court, the FPA staffs were placed and held on prisoners’ bench for hours before they were released by Judge Yarmie Gbeisay based on the plea of Cllr. Pearl Brown-Bull, after assuring Judge Gbeisay she would ensure that the bond is filed before 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 10.
The suit, Henry A. K. Morgan and Moses T. Konah of the City of Monrovia, Vs. Henry V. L. Morgan, Edwin A. Morgan and Gbein Morgan of the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, R.L, as First Defendants and FrontPage Africa Newspaper by and thru its Board of Directors, Managing Editor, News Editor and all those working under their scope of authority; and also of the same address as Second Defendants.
One of the party litigants, A. Dashward Morgan stated: “If FrontPage Africa continues to write what they don’t have proof of, we’ll take them to court and knowing what the law says, it would be detrimental for them.”
The suit is in the tone of US$500,000 as special damages US$1,000,000 as general damages and US$350,000 as punitive damages.
How It All Began
FrontPageAfrica published a paid-for announcement as advertisement from one of its clients on Friday, March 16, 2018. This announcement, signed by the ‘administrators of the Lawrence A. Morgan Estate, sought to inform the public that Mr. Kopeyor Adamah Seh, also known as Henry A.K. Morgan and Anthony C. Morgan, and Moses T. Konah are presenting themselves as administrators of the estate of Lawrence A. Morgan, but were not authorized to lease, sell, collect rents or transact any other business on behalf of the estate.
On March 22, 2018, the Law offices of Weah and Associates wrote FrontPageAfria through the Managing Editor, describing the announcement as defamtory against their cleints and informed the paper that those mentioned in the announcement are by ruling of the Supreme Court administrators of the estate. The letter demanded a retraction of the announcement “in the interest of peace and harmony.”
In regards to the letter and supporting documents attached, FPA in respect to the request published an erratum on March 23, 2018 – just a day after receiving the letter. The erratum was accorded the same prominence as was the previous paid-for announcemnt.
However, in total disregard to the requested retraction, the suit was filed, making FPA the second defendant.
Signals of Witch Hunting
It has come to the attention of FrontPageAfrica that several other local dailies including the Daily Observer and New Democrat in particular published the same announcement as did FPA. However, the paper wonders why the suit was only directed at it.
The suit comes in the wake of mounting attacks on FPA by individuals within government and their supporters.
The mayor of the City of Monrovia and youth wing chair of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has in series of press conferences in recent time accused the FrontPage Africa and its Managing Editor of blackmailing the goverment, though no iota of evidence has been produced to subtaintiate the wild allegations.
The paper in recent time has been questioning and exposing through its reports and editorials President George Weah’s refusal to declare his assets in disregard to the Code of Conduct; the President’s construction of his dream house; demolition for reconstruction of a dormant property on 9th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia and the refurbishment of his private Jamaica Resort. Also FrontPageAfrica has been highliting the unforeseen consequences of the government of Liberia’s US$536 million loan secured through an undisclosed memorandum of understanding signed in Hong Kong recently and the President’s choice of Bali Island for his dream “new Monrovia” agaisnt international convention. But all these reports were met with stiff resistance from the government and actors within government, branding the paper as “opposition paper.”
Henry A. K. Morgan, one of the plaintiffs, who filed the suit against FrontPageAfrica, was a candidate (2011) on the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) ticket in Bomi County Electoral District Two.
FrontPage Africa has gathered that he is reportedly seeking job in the Weah-led government.
Government Steps Aside
While FPA staffs were still on prisoners’ bench at the court, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism issued a press statement distancing itself from the suit.
The Ministry wrote: “The Ministry of Information wishes to clarify that the closure of FrontPage Africa newspaper and the arrest of some of its staffs were not on the orders of the Government of Liberia.
“Contrary to the erroneous claims that inudated social media platforms and other news outlets on Monday, April 9, 2018, the legal suits against the entity was one of a private nature between FPA and Henry A. K. Morgan and Moses T. Konah of the City of Monrovia.
“The Government of Liberia wants to reemphasize its commitment to free press and freedom of expression. During the recent transfer from UNMIL Radio to ECOWAS Radio, President George M. Weah again renewed his pledge and promise to resubmit the draft act to decriminalize speech offenses so as to give media entities the protection against closure and arrest in civil cases of libel and defemation.”
Oldest Trick In The Book
Rodney Sieh, Managing Editor of FrontPageAfrica, described the government’s denial of involvement as the “Oldest trick on the book”.
In response to the suit, Sieh wrote:
“To our readers and supporters: Thanks for all for your concerns and prayers over our latest ordeal. Contrary to what the Ministry of Information has stated, we are strongly convinced that the government is definitely behind what happened today [Monday] and the Presidency is in the know.
“Why was it necessary to shut down our newspaper and arrest our staff?
“The Civil Law Court issued two separate instructions to the Sheriff against Frontpage Africa all dated 5th April 2018:
“Additionally, summons was issued for FPA as Defendants to appear or April 15th 2018;
“A separate summons was issued for FPA to appear in JUNE 2018.
“So, was it really necessary to arrest and shut down our premises?
“In addition, several other newspapers published the same land announcement as we did but only our newspaper was singled out.
“Finally, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe told the VOA in an interview that since the government came to office, we have not published any positive stories about the new government.
“While we are not the mouthpiece of the government that assertion is far from the truth. Modern technology offers easy access to search the net and see that we have carried a lot of positive stories. It is not our fault when our investigation leads in the negative direction.
“We owe no favors and demand nothing from anyone.
“The government’s actions today will not keep us from doing our investigative work but will only strengthen us to do more.
“We are aware that government operatives have been using fake social media accounts to attack our credibility and issue threats against me and my staff – with some suggesting arson.
“We will not back down neither would we waiver. President Weah’s failure to keep his supporters from raining threats on the media falls on his record and his presidency. Should anything happen to me or any member of my staff our blood will be on his hands.
The government’s denial is the oldest trick in the book- as we have seen in other countries across Africa, they hide behind civil lawsuits to strike and suppress the press.