-As the UL Board Calls for Suspension of the Announcement of Law School Dux
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – The embattled dux of the University of Liberia Law School has initiated a US$4 million defamation lawsuit against exiled Liberian Martin K.N. Kollie, alleging he made false and malicious statements that have severely damaged her professional and academic reputation.
Madam Ezetta Jones-Howe, a final-year student and the “top-performing student” (dux) at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, filed the civil action on [Date of filing, if known, otherwise remove] during the March Term A.D. 2026. The case, docketed before the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court in Montserrado County, has been assigned to Resident Circuit Judge J. Kennedy Peabody.
According to the complaint, the lawsuit stems from a series of statements posted by Kollie on his official Facebook page. The plaintiff contends that the activist’s publications explicitly accused her of engaging in criminal fraud and falsifying her academic credentials—allegations she vehemently denies.
“The statements published by the defendant are not only patently false but are defamatory per se under well-established principles of common law, as recognized in Liberian jurisprudence,” a portion of the complaint reads. The filing argues that the accusations have tarnished the integrity and good name Jones-Howe has cultivated throughout her academic career.
Jones-Howe is seeking a total of US$4 million in damages, broken down into US$3.5 million in general damages for the harm caused to her reputation and an additional US$500,000 in punitive damages intended to deter the defendant from future malicious conduct.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to free speech enshrined in Article 15 of the Liberian Constitution, the complaint asserts that such protections are not absolute. “Freedom of expression does not provide a shield for the dissemination of falsehoods motivated by malice,” the legal filing argues.
In response to the filing, the court has issued a writ of summons directing Martin K.N. Kollie to formally answer the complaint within the timeframe prescribed by law. As of press time, the defendant has not issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit.
Martin K. N. Kollie took to social media last weekend to question the legitimacy of Howe’s l status as the graduating class’s top student. Earlier this week, Kollie alleged that leaked documents showed discrepancies in her grade in Human Rights Law, a course taught by Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe. However, Howe told WomenVoices on Tuesday that the A+ notation in question appeared on her personal ledger, not on any official record.
Amid the controversy, the lawsuit came less than an hour before the University of Liberia (UL) Board of Trustees recommends that the announcement of the Law School Dux for the 2025 graduating class be tabled pending the outcome of a formal investigation.
The decision follows a formal complaint filed by several graduating students, coupled with new information that has since come to the attention of both the UL Administration and the Board. In a statement released today, the Board acknowledged that while University President Dr. assures the public that the matter will be handled with the utmost fairness.
“The Board believes that the issue of a Dux of the Law School can be confirmed after a thorough investigation has been conducted,” the statement continued. “The University places premium on the integrity of the academic process and would take all necessary steps to ensure no one is denied legitimate recognition or given recognition that is undeserving.”
The Board has called for calm among all parties involved and urged students to remain law-abiding throughout the graduation festivities.
The investigation is expected to begin immediately, with further announcements to follow upon its conclusion.
