The dux of the University of Liberia, Madam Ezetta Jones-Howe, has filed a US$4 million lawsuit against activist Martin Kollie, accusing him of defamation.
The civil action was filed during the March Term, A.D. 2026, before the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court in Montserrado County. The case has been assigned to Resident Circuit Judge J. Kennedy Peabody.
According to the complaint, Jones-Howe, a final-year student and current dux of the Law School, alleges that Kollie made defamatory statements about her on his Facebook page. She claims the statements accused her of criminal fraud and academic falsification—allegations she maintains are entirely false and damaging to her reputation.
In her suit, Jones-Howe is seeking US$3.5 million in general damages and an additional US$500,000 in punitive damages. The filing argues that the alleged statements amount to defamation per se under common law principles recognized in Liberian jurisprudence, asserting that the accusations directly impugn her integrity and professional standing.
The complaint further contends that while freedom of speech is guaranteed under Article 15 of the Liberian Constitution, such protection does not extend to statements that are false, malicious, and injurious to another person’s character.
The court has ordered the issuance of a writ of summons directing Kollie to appear and respond within the time prescribed by law. The matter is expected to proceed in keeping with established civil procedure.
