SML Defamation Suit: Manasseh Awuni Denies Evading Service of Writ

Investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure has denied claims that he has been evading service of a writ regarding the 21 million defamation suit filed against him by Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), a company on which he conducted investigations two years ago.

After filing the suit in November 2024 over his reference to the Company’s contract with the GRA as “the biggest scam”, and “shady,” among others in his book “The President Ghana Never Got,” the journalist is yet to be served.

In a statement on his Facebook wall, Manasseh said he is currently based in the United States of America (USA) where he has been living since August last year.

“The editor of an online portal told me on Saturday that someone called to offer him money to publish the story, and he declined. When he asked why, the person claimed I was evading service of the writ. It must be put on record that I have been in the United States since August 2024, and this is public knowledge.”

According to him, he is not afraid of defamation suits as he has always owned up to them when they come.

“This is the 11th defamation suit against me since 2015. I have never run away from any suit. I am a law-abiding citizen and will avail myself to defend my work, which has saved Ghana hundreds of millions of dollars and resulted in reforms and successful prosecutions.”

He is of the view that the lawyers of the company could have served him through the same process that was used when together with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), he was dragged to court earlier last year.

“SML had sued the Media Foundation for West Africa and me in February 2024 for the publication of the SML scandal. The court served me the writ by substituted service because I was in the United States for a one-year journalism fellowship at Harvard University. That writ was signed by the same Victoria Barth of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, so the same method of service could have been applied to serve me in this case.”

The journalist says he has since instructed his lawyers to take steps to have the writ served on him.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini