Liberia: Radio Nimba Apologizes to Magistrate Queeglay for Defamation of Character

By Jerry T. Myers, Jr. (Guest Contributor)

The management of Radio Nimba in Sanniquellie has expressed deep regret and issued an apology to Stipendiary Magistrate Wuo Queeglay for a story that was aired on October 30, 2023. The story falsely linked Magistrate Queeglay to the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Zuolay Town, Nimba County.

During the 8 PM evening news broadcast, reporter Shalon Gonlor mistakenly attributed the alleged crime to Magistrate Queeglay, instead of the former official of the Zuolay Magisterial Court, Chester Paye, who was actually involved in the incident. Radio Nimba acknowledges that this incorrect information was unverified and imbalanced and that it caused undue inconvenience, defamation, and embarrassment to Magistrate Queeglay.

In a released statement, Radio Nimba’s management expressed their sincere apology to Magistrate Queeglay, assuring him that the mistaken report was not an intentional attempt to tarnish his reputation. They emphasized that his hard-earned reputation as a respected senior citizen of the county was not their intention to undermine.

“We the management of Radio Nimba considered the report as unverified, imbalanced; noting that Stipendiary Magistrate Wuo Queeglay has no link to the alleged rape case and we therefore expressed our apology to him for any inconvenience,” said the release. “The station acknowledged that the news story may have defamed the character of the magistrate and also caused him unwanted embarrassment, so we expressed regret over this form of embarrassment.”

The station appeals to the public not to be misled by this false and baseless news, as Magistrate Queeglay has no connection to the alleged crime. They urge everyone to disregard the misleading report and reaffirm their commitment to transparency and accuracy in their news coverage.

In response to the ethical breach by reporter Shalon Gonlor, Radio Nimba has taken immediate action by suspending him for a period of five months. They justify this decision by highlighting Gonlor's failure to verify the story, which has damaged the character of an esteemed individual and brought the station into disrepute. The management also emphasizes the importance of good journalistic practices and warns all staff members to be proactive in adhering to the principles of responsible reporting.

While unintentional defamation does not exempt one from legal responsibility under Liberian laws, Radio Nimba's management does accept full responsibility for their mistake. They acknowledge that individuals affected by such defamation have the right to seek legal recourse to preserve their reputation and ensure appropriate sanctions are imposed.

Radio Nimba concludes its statement by emphasizing its commitment to rectifying the error and maintaining its credibility as a trustworthy source of news. They affirm their dedication to upholding the tenets of good journalism and pledge to take decisive action against any further violations that could compromise their integrity.

It is important to note that the Liberian legal system provides legal avenues for addressing defamation cases, including those where defamation occurs unintentionally. The protection of reputation and honor is considered a fundamental right in Liberia, and specific laws, such as the Defamation of Character Act, exist to address instances of unjustly tarnished reputation.