MONROVIA – John H. T. Stewart, former Commissioner of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), is facing a $400,000 libel suit filed against him by Attorney Jawah Gray, the Comptroller of the National Elections Commission (NEC). The lawsuit, served by Civil Law Court Deputy Sheriff Fofie Kamara Jr., stems from an article Stewart published on Facebook on April 24, 2024, titled “Broad Daylight, Highway Robbery at NEC Should Not Be Countenanced.”
In the article, Stewart criticized alleged corruption at the NEC, without specifically mentioning Gray’s name. Gray, however, claims that the article was malicious and aimed at damaging his reputation. This is not the first time Stewart has faced legal action for his writings on corruption at the NEC; a similar suit was filed against him nearly ten years ago by then-NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya, which ultimately did not proceed.
Stewart is puzzled by the current lawsuit, questioning whether Gray is suing him in his personal capacity or as an official representing the NEC. He views the lawsuit as an attempt to stifle free expression and shield public officials from public scrutiny. Stewart asserts that his writings are in the public interest and that he is prepared to face imprisonment or even lay down his life for advocating in the public interest, as he cannot afford the $400,000 demanded by Gray.
The lawsuit against Stewart is likely to shed light on the alleged corrupt activities at the NEC, especially considering that Gray himself is facing criminal indictment by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LAC). It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and what implications it will have for freedom of expression and accountability in Liberia.
