MONROVIA – The Civil Law Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Hassan and Hussein Fadiga in a high-profile defamation lawsuit brought against them by former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Director Colonel Abraham Kromah. Presiding Judge George Smith upheld a previous ruling from May 6, which held the Fadiga brothers liable and ordered them to pay $1.5 million in damages.
The court’s latest decision reinforces the earlier verdict, citing the brothers’ failure to comply with legal procedures required for a valid appeal. Specifically, Judge Smith referenced Chapter 24, Sections 24.1 and 24.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which outline the proper steps for filing and pursuing an appeal in civil and criminal cases.
The legal dispute stems from serious allegations made by the Fadigas, who accused Kromah of stealing $200,000 and removing CCTV equipment during a raid on the residence of convicted drug trafficker George “Japan” Obi. The accusations circulated widely and prompted Kromah to seek legal redress, arguing that his reputation had been severely damaged.
Following the dismissal of the appeal, Colonel Kromah expressed satisfaction with the outcome, calling the court’s ruling a powerful statement against character defamation. He emphasized that the decision should serve as a warning to individuals who use false accusations to tarnish the reputations of others, especially public officials.
