EOCO BOSS ANGRY , TAKES EDITOR TO COURT FOR FALSE PUBLICATION

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba

The Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime office (EOCO) has dragged Mr. David Tamaklo, the Editor of the Republic newspaper before an Accra Fast Track High Court over falsehood publication against him.

The EOCO Boss, Mr. Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, is seeking punitive and aggravated damage of GHC5million for libelous and malicious publication against him by the defendants.

He also want an order by the court to compel the defendants to render public apology in the manner agreeable to him for material malicious written and publication against him as well as cost and legal fees.

The particular of offence of Libelous and Malicious publication, “Mr. Mortey Biadela Akpadzi Has been Fingered as the Man stabbing President Mills at the Back by Snitching Officials Documents.”

“ He Left His Trails Uncovered in the Grand Scheme to Seek His Interest at the Expense of His Job.”

Joined in the suit as defendants, are the news editor of the Republic newspaper, Mr. Thykindom Kudesy and the DST Global Consult, the publisher of the Republic news paper.

In a writ of summons and statement of claim filed on June 22, this year, the EOCO boss said, the defendants in their June 21, 2012 edition, did published or caused to be published certain materials which the defendants knew or ought to have known to be untrue, malicious and libelous against him as the Executive Director of EOCO.

He avers that, in the said publication, the defendants in their own words without any crosschecking of facts, did published in the front page  caption,” Exposed, Now EOCO Boss Leaks Official Documents to the Crusading Newspaper ,”  which were completely falsehood and in clear attempt to tarnished his professional reputation as a lawyer and  government officer.

He said the defendants in their attempt to defame and malign him went further to state among others that, he the plaintiff “has been fingered as the Man stabbing President Mills at the back by snitching official’s documents,” to persons outside the government or opposition.

The EOCO boss contend that, the defendants also published that , “he had Left his Trails uncovered in the grand scheme to seek his Personal Interest at the Expenses of his Job,” which he said  has caused an irreparable damage to his reputation as the general public would see him as a dishonest public officer.

According to  the plaintiff,  the defendants have malign him in person, for  failing to seek clearance from him and went ahead to published that , “ his improper and unpleasant involvement in issues which had comes to his knowledge as head of the Economic and Organized Crime Office ,”  were reckless and by the defendants which has sought to damage his reputation.

He said, the publication has made him to suffer serious damage to his character as he would be portrayed as a dishonest and unprofessional in his position as a Executive Director of EOCO.

He concludes that, until court restrained and order the defendants to pay a punitive cost of damage to his reputation and apologies, they would not stop to malign him before the eye s of the general public.