MONROVIA — The Supreme Court of Liberia has recalled and corrected a portion of its ruling delivered Thursday, August 27, in a damages case involving former LISGIS Deputy Director General Wilmot Smith and Ecobank Liberia.
By: Willie N. Tokpah
Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, as the Court resumed its ongoing ruling session on Friday, August 28, clarified that the inclusion of activist Martin K.N. Kollie and Alex Williams in a US$50,000 general damages award each was an inadvertent error in the Full Bench’s opinion.
According to the Court’s clarification, Kollie and Williams were not parties to the case before the lower court in the manner contemplated by the judgment and, therefore, could not properly be subjected to the damages award.
The Supreme Court consequently cancelled the US$50,000 award against Kollie and the separate US$50,000 award against Williams.
However, the Court’s US$250,000 special damages award against Ecobank Liberia remains in effect.
The clarification came just one day after Thursday’s ruling generated widespread public attention, particularly over the inclusion of Kollie and Williams in the damages portion of the judgment.
With Friday’s correction, Ecobank Liberia remains solely responsible for the US$250,000 award arising from the Supreme Court’s decision in the matter involving Smith.
Following Thursday’s ruling, Kollie and Williams separately took to Facebook to challenge the decision, saying they had never been cited or informed about any case involving them.
Both said the inclusion of their names in the judgment came as a surprise.
The Supreme Court’s clarification now removes the financial penalties against the two men, while leaving the US$250,000 special damages award against Ecobank Liberia intact.
More details are expected as the Supreme Court continues its ongoing ruling session.
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