The First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, is preparing to file a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Koidu Holdings Limited, a private mining company operating in the country. The legal action follows what her legal team describes as a series of “false and malicious” allegations made by the company against her.
The lawsuit centers on a letter allegedly issued by Koidu Holdings’ management accusing Madam Bio of inciting illegal strike actions, causing financial losses, and exceeding her official role by interfering in internal labor disputes at the company’s mining site in Kono District.
Backed by a formidable legal team comprising thirteen lawyers from the firm Tejan-Cole and Yillah Associates, the First Lady asserts that the accusations amount to a personal and defamatory attack. Her lawyers argue that her involvement in the labor dispute was lawful and undertaken at the express request of the company’s top management.
According to the legal team, Madam Bio was approached on five separate occasions; four times at her office and once at her residence, by Koidu Holdings’ senior executives who sought her intervention to help mediate and resolve a protracted workers’ strike.
“The strike action had commenced long before our client was invited to mediate, and to claim otherwise is a desperate attempt to deflect from your own corporate failures,” the legal letter states.
Madam Bio’s proposed recommendations, including monthly rice distributions and clean drinking water for underground workers, were reportedly not only accepted but also implemented by the company; further demonstrating, her lawyers argue, that her involvement was both invited and constructive.
The First Lady’s legal counsel also challenges the company’s reference to an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to her lawyers, the ACC has found no wrongdoing on Madam Bio’s part and instead confirmed that allegations of tax evasion and improper payments by Koidu Holdings are currently under criminal investigation.
Describing the company’s allegations as “false, malicious, and defamatory,” the legal team is demanding a full public apology and the payment of $50 million in damages. The amount, they say, should be deposited into the account of the National Revenue Authority within seven days. Failure to comply, they warn, will result in legal action both in Sierra Leone and in Guernsey, where the company’s parent firm is registered.
In addition to pursuing domestic and international legal remedies, Madam Bio is considering reporting Koidu Holdings to global human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Her legal team has hinted at efforts to have the company’s diamonds classified as “products of human rights violations,” a move that could impact the company’s global business operations.
“This is not just about personal reputation,” said a spokesperson for her legal team. “It’s about standing up against corporate intimidation and ensuring accountability.”
As of press time, Koidu Holdings Limited has not issued a response.
