SALLIEU TEJAN-JALLOH, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE TIMES SIERRA LEONE NEWSPAPER MAY FACE LIBEL LAW!!

Journalist Sallieu Tejan-Jalloh (photo credit) 

SALLIEU TEJAN-JALLOH, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE TIMES SIERRA LEONE NEWSPAPER MAY FACE LIBEL LAW!! 

By: Ndemowoma Yankuba Mustapha. 

Sallieu Tejan-Jalloh, Managing Editor of The Times Sierra Leone Newspaper may face libel law. This is exactly the speculation that is making the rounds among many Sierra Leoneans regarding his refusal to present evidence of alleging that a total of US$1.5M was paid into the Chief Minister, Professor David J. Francis' Ecobank account as bribes, to the Anti-Corruption Commission. 

In an electronically signed press release by the Director, Ministerial and Cabinet, the allegation is termed as nefarious. Adding that the allegation of the payment of US$1.5 million to a private account owned by Professor David J. Francis is not only false but a calculated attempt to smear his image and reputation. 

The Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, while acting in consonance with Section 7(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, which mandates the Commission “to investigate instances of alleged or suspected corruption referred to it by any person or authority or which has come to its attention, whether by complaint or otherwise," he accordingly contacted Mr. Jalloh to help with information to aid an investigation. But unfortunately, the Commissioner said, the Managing Editor refused to comply with the request of the Commissioner. Many citizens have viewed his refusal to comply with the Commission as a violation of the provision of the right to access information Act, 2003. 

According to the Act, Subsection (2) of Section 2 of The Right To Access Information Act, 2003 states thus, 'Every person has the right to access information held by or is under the control of a private body where that information is necessary for the enforcement or protection of any right'. 

Ecobank has clarified that “Professor David John Francis does not maintain any account with the Bank.” Yet, Ecobank maintained that Professor Francis has an Ecobank CashXpress pre-paid card since August 2019. The said card, according to Ecobank, denominated only in Leones, can be issued to both Ecobank account holders and non-account holders. The investigations also revealed that since he was issued this card, Professor Francis never loaded the said card with cash; and therefore never used it.

SL Mining confirms that such a payment does not exist. Reiterating that it has always complied and continues to comply with all laws, both local or international, and with SL Mining’s own strict anti-bribery and other policies.

However, since there's no evidence so far put forward to substantiate  the claim of the Managing Editor of the Times Sierra Leone Newspaper, and at the same time, the Anti-Corruption Commission does not have jurisdiction over blackmails, it is rumored among many Sierra Leoneans that the Professor  might press for redress in a court of law to clean up his reputation as it has already been smeared. 

According to The Public Order Act, 1965, defamation of character is libelous as entrenched in sections 26 and 27 respectively. Section 26. 'Any person who maliciously publishes any defamatory matter shall be guilty of an offence called libel and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding seven hundred leones or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment'. Also in Section 27. 'Any person who maliciously publishes any defamatory matter shall be guilty of an offence called libel and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding seven hundred leones or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment'. 

Another school of thought is of the opinion that the Chief Minister may not press for charges as part of his New Direction government campaign promises was to repeal the seditious criminal libel law from the Public Order Act, 1965. But again, one may argue that, though moves have been made by government to repeal such clause from the act, it still remains in force until it goes through the corridors of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament. 

What however, is not clear to this medium is the reason for his denial to reveal his source of information or better still, his evidence to the institution in charge of probing into corruption and corruption related issues in Sierra Leone - The Anti-Corruption Commission. 

It could be recalled that allegations have been making the rounds on social media alleging that a total of US$1.5M was paid into the Chief Minister, Professor David J. Francis' Ecobank account as bribes, An allegation to which he denied. Describing as false and a calculated attempt to smear his image and reputation.