In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Octea Limited, the parent company of Koidu Limited, has issued a formal legal notice to Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, accusing her of unlawful interference, incitement, defamation, and causing severe financial harm to the company.
The letter, signed by Octea’s Director and General Counsel, Gustaf Fredrik Bodin, alleges that Dr. Bio incited illegal strike actions, disseminated defamatory statements, and unlawfully interfered in the operations of Koidu Limited—a major diamond mining enterprise in Kono District.
According to the letter, Koidu Limited, a significant foreign investor in Sierra Leone since 2003, has been forced to halt operations and place the mine under care and maintenance following what it described as “illegal strike action” allegedly encouraged by the First Lady.
Bodin asserts that Dr. Bio’s public statements and alleged incitement have jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of workers, disrupted national revenue streams, and inflicted financial losses exceeding $16 million, with an additional $20 million required to restart operations.
“Your continued incitement of hostility and provocation of unrest presented a clear and immediate threat to life and safety,” the letter states. “Your actions have triggered a crisis that now poses a direct threat to public order, lives, investor security, and Sierra Leone’s international standing.”
The legal notice outlines several alleged violations by the First Lady, including:
• Incitement of illegal strikes in violation of the Industrial Relations & Trade Union Act 2023.
• Dissemination of defamatory and false statements, including accusations of bribery and corruption against the company and its management.
• Inciting violence and threatening to barricade company premises and blockade expatriate workers.
• Siding with disgruntled employees, some dismissed for gross misconduct, to propagate false narratives and demand illegal payouts.
The letter also alleges that the First Lady publicly encouraged the company to “shut down and leave Kono,” a statement Octea claims directly led to the halting of operations and the evacuation of its personnel.
Financial Impact and Potential Legal Actions
Bodin warns that the damages caused by the alleged unlawful actions extend beyond financial losses, highlighting severe reputational harm to Octea and its parent company.
“Restarting operations following the illegal strike action is technically complicated and will require significant capital, specialized skills, and time,” Bodin stated. “The damage wrought by your actions will be extremely difficult to repair.”
Octea has outlined a series of intended legal actions against the First Lady, including:
• Filing civil and criminal lawsuits in Sierra Leone for defamation, incitement, and unlawful interference.
• Seeking asset tracing and worldwide freezing orders targeting assets linked to the First Lady.
• Engaging foreign embassies and international diplomatic missions to highlight the alleged destabilizing effect of Dr. Bio’s actions on the investment climate.
• Filing formal complaints with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international human rights bodies.
The letter concludes with a demand for $20 million to restart operations, a public retraction of all alleged defamatory statements, and a formal commitment from Dr. Bio to cease further interference.
Octea’s legal action comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over the government’s handling of industrial disputes and investment security, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for Sierra Leone’s mining sector and foreign investor confidence.
Neither the Office of the First Lady nor State House has issued a formal response to the allegations at the time of publication.
By Jane Cole and Rosaline Turay
