President faces $10m lawsuit at ECOWAS Court
Liberian President Joseph Boakai is facing a $10m lawsuit filed before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.
The suit alleges his involvement in the unlawful suspension and character assassination of Liberia’s Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Ms. Emma Glassco.
The lawsuit claims that in February, President Boakai arbitrarily suspended Glassco over alleged “financial inefficiency.”
The Republic of Liberia is named as the sole respondent in the suit.
Filed on Monday, March 14, 2025, and marked ECW/CCJ/APP/19/25, the lawsuit was submitted by Glassco’s legal team, led by former Chief Justice of Liberia Kabineh Ja’nneh, and attorney Sayma Cephus.
The suit argues that Glassco’s suspension violated due process.
Glassco further asserts that she was never investigated or found guilty by any anti-corruption agency in Liberia.
However, she alleges that her reputation was tarnished by the suspension, which she contends was carried out without legal procedures.
She claims that the decision portrayed her as a person lacking integrity.
“The applicant states that the respondent has subjected her to public humiliation, harassment, and intimidation, far beyond any treasonable offense. The respondent instructed nearly all state institutions to conduct criminal investigations, attempting to incriminate her and justify the illegal suspension,” the suit reads.
Among her demands, Glassco is seeking $10m in compensation for the emotional and psychological trauma, public humiliation, false stigmatisation, and ongoing harassment she claims to have endured.
She also requests special damages totaling at least $175,000 to cover the unexpired portion of her four-year contract, which she argues has caused unnecessary financial hardship for her and her family.
Glassco also seeks a declaration from the court that the respondent’s actions were illegal and in violation of Liberia’s tenure laws, which resulted in significant harm to her professional standing and psychological well-being. She is requesting at least $5m in compensation for these damages.
Additionally, Glassco demands a public apology from President Boakai, which should be published in all major newspapers, aired on radio and television, and displayed on Liberia’s official government website.
She asserts that this is necessary to repair the damage done to her reputation, which was unjustly tarnished by false allegations of corruption and the baseless investigations that followed.
Glassco further seeks $250,000 in litigation costs to be paid by the respondent.
The applicant also notes that she has twelve months remaining on her contract, which was prematurely terminated, and that her salary and allowances have been suspended.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the case.
