Demanding US$4M Damages For Allegedly Injuring His Reputation

PHOTO: Ex-Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa

By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com

TEMPLE OF Justice, Monrovia– Former Liberian House Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has dragged the Bukonjedeh group companies Chief Executive officer, Elton Johns to court for allegedly defaming his reputation.

Cllr. Koffa filed his lawsuit with the Sixth Judicial Civil Law Court over claims of defamation, Economic loss and emotional distress.

In his complaint filed at the Sixth Judicial Civil law court, the Plaintiff(Koffa) said,  is a highly responsible and reputable citizen of the Republic of Liberia whose character and experiences over the years earned him a place as an elected Representative of Electoral District #2, Grand Kru County and subsequently about that material time and period was elected by his peers as Speaker of the 55th National Legislature of the House of Representatives, Republic of Liberia; a lawyer by profession and a member of the supreme court bar, he is a resident of Congo Town, Montserrado County.

The ex-Speaker further stated that the first Defendant is a purported loan company doing business as Bukonjedah Group of Companies with its headquarters located at Rose Garden Plaza Crown Hill.

Further, the second Defendant Elton Johns (“Johns”) is the Chief Executive Officer of Bukonjedeh, resides in Rehab Community, and at all relevant times acted within the scope of his employment and for the benefit of Bukonjedeh.

That this Honorable Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over civil actions for damages for wrong and torts arising in Montserrado County, and personal jurisdiction over Defendants who reside, are domiciled, and/or transact business in this County. Venue is proper because the wrongful publications were made and disseminated in Montserrado County and even beyond thus causing grave injury therein.

Further to the above, Plaintiff says that on or about August 14, 2025, Elton Johns appeared on Punch FM/radio, a local station (Publicly identified as aligned with the Ruling Unity Party) and stated inter alia that plaintiff “owes me Twelve Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars (USD12, 500) from July 2024 to date and refused to pay”. A statement that he knows to be false but was made with glee and reckless abandon. Mr. Johns knowing the statements to be false went on to further publish these reckless and baseless statements on Facebook and other social and national media platforms, which were and continue to be accessible to the Liberian Public and the international audience. The statement issued is a malicious libel calculated to expose Plaintiff to hatred, contempt and public ridicule within his community, amongst his peers and family members;

Further to count 5 above, the said false and reckless statement has subjected Plaintiff to criminal sanctions, because, under our law, practice and procedure within this Jurisdiction, a person is guilty of the crime of theft when he/she/they steal, as it is alleged by the Defendants. Moreover, to allege or defame a person of such through writings and publications is libel, especially if it wrongfully tarnish the name and character of another without evidence or iota of truth. Hence, Damages will lie in the instant case,

Plaintiff says that at the time of the publication, Defendants knew the statements were false and acted in reckless disregard of the truth and with actual malice and personal animus toward Plaintiff. Defendants’ animus stems directly and inter alia, from the loss of the free office space at the Capitol Building the defendants once enjoyed as well as the curtailment of usurious lending practices to Capitol building staff, during Plaintiff’s tenure as Speaker of the House. It was during this period when Bukonjedeh was required to (a)

In his law suit filed on September 23,2025, former speaker Kofa sued the companies for $4.5 million USD in damages for defamation, economic loss, and emotional distress.

The lawsuit accused the defendants of spreading defamatory and malicious falsehoods intended to damage he Koffa’s professional reputation and economic relationships.

The complaint, alleges that the defendants made false public statements that suggested he engaged in financial misconduct and dishonesty, which severely injured his public and professional standing. The statements were made with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth, the complaint notes.

The plaintiff cited Bakleh v. Greene, 14 LLR 204 (1960), asserting that the defendants’ comments fall under defamation per se, meaning they are inherently harmful without needing further proof of damage. Koffa claims the remarks ridiculed him publicly and led to a significant loss of reputation and professional esteem, both locally and internationally.

Elton Johns, the 2nd defendant, is specifically accused of making direct references to Koffa with the intention of humiliating and economically harming him. The plaintiff states that he will rely on video and audio recordings to support his claims.

The suit outlines that Koffa ties with various local and international entities due to the defamatory campaign, resulting in economic hardship. He accuses the defendants of intentionally and recklessly causing emotional trauma, including mental anguish, stress, and public ridicule.

WHEREFORE AND IN VIEW OF THE Foregoing, Plaintiff prays Your Honour and this Honorable Court to grant the following relief that Your Honour may deem just and equitable:

1. That Defendants be held severally and jointly liable to the Plaintiff and order the Defendants to pay to the Plaintiff an amount of US$4,000,000 (Four Million United States Dollars) as Special Damages representing loss of Plaintiff’s income from his business relationships that have been terminated as a result of Defendants injurious publication.

1. That Defendants be held severally and jointly liable to the Plaintiff and order the Defendants to pay to the Plaintiff an amount of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as General Damages.

1. Rule the costs of these proceedings against Defendants and grant unto Plaintiff any and all further relief that Your Honor and this Honourable Court will deem just and equitable in this premise.

Damages include:

4,000,000 USD in Special Damages, representing the loss of business relationships and economic benefits.

– $500,000 USD in General Damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Filed through International Law Group, the plaintiff’s legal team has requested that the defendants be held jointly and severally liable, meaning each defendant could be responsible for the entire judgment.

Meanwhile, the Civil Law Court has issued a Writ of Summons for the defendants to appear in court to respond to the allegations on December 15,2025 and Failure on their part to appear, the court will have no alternative but to render default judgment in Koffa’s favor.