Former Information Minister Eugene Lenn Nagbe, known for his bold and unfiltered commentary on national affairs, has landed at the center of a US$2 million defamation lawsuit brought against him by Sam Gaye, Director of the Executive Protection Service (EPS).
The lawsuit, filed at the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court in Monrovia, stems from comments Nagbe made during a March 31st interview on OK FM 99.5.
During the broadcast, Nagbe referenced circulating claims that Gaye had displayed a photo in his bedroom showing a gun pointed at former President George M. Weah.
The remarks have sparked public debate and a fierce legal response from Gaye, who says his reputation has suffered irreparably as a result.
However, Nagbe is standing firm in his position and has issued a direct response to the legal action.
“I was personally served by the sheriff of the Civil Law Court with a writ of summons,” Nagbe said in a response to media men on Monday, April 21. “The lawsuit from Mr. Sam Gaye is frivolous and completely bereft of merit.”
He added that he had retained a top-tier legal team to handle his defence.
“I have secured the services of the International Law Group, whose team of lawyers, led by Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi, will mount a robust defence to have the suit dismissed. I trust the judicial system, and I am therefore confident that this vainglorious attempt to intimidate will be thrashed and squashed,” he stated.
Nagbe pointed out that he will no longer comment publicly on the matter without legal counsel.
“Henceforth, I will speak to this matter through or with the advice of my lawyers,” he observed.
Supporters of Nagbe argued that the lawsuit is a direct attack on freedom of speech and a dangerous precedent in a democratic society where public officials must remain open to scrutiny.
Civil society leaders and political analysts alike are warning against what they see as growing efforts to muzzle dissent and critical voices.
“Eugene spoke as a citizen and former government official concerned about national security,” said one political observer. “This should have sparked a national conversation, not a lawsuit.”
Meanwhile, legal minds are split. Some believe the court must consider the reputational harm claimed by Gaye, while others argue that the lawsuit is excessive and may be perceived as an effort to silence a well-known voice in Liberian politics.
The case is scheduled for hearing during the court’s June Term.
As it progresses, it is already shaping up to be more than just a personal dispute; it is being seen as a test of how Liberia handles the tension between protecting reputations and preserving the right to speak freely.
