Delivering a landmark ruling, the District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County awarded damages of US$20,056 to renowned barrister and solicitor, Yada Hashim Williams, in a libel case against U.S.-based Mohamed Kutubu Koroma. The judgment, handed down on 23rd July 2025, concluded a three-year legal battle over what Yada Hashim Williams described as a relentless campaign of online defamation.
According to court documents (Case No. D-05-CV-25-018282), Mohamed Kutubu Koroma engaged in a series of malicious attacks against Yada Hashim Williams, branding him a “fraud,” “failed lawyer,” “mediocre,” “broke” and a “scammer” through various online platforms. The defamatory campaign culminated in an audio message released on 4th April 2024, in which Mohamed Kutubu Koroma admitted his intent to “humiliate and embarrass” the Sierra Leonean legal luminary.
Yada Hashim Williams had previously obtained a judgment against Mohamed Kutubu Koroma in Sierra Leone in November 2023 after suing him for similar defamatory statements made in July 2022. Despite that ruling, Mohamed Kutubu Koroma allegedly continued his attacks, prompting Yada Hashim Williams to seek redress in the United States.
“The court’s decision is not just a personal vindication but a strong message that defamation, even when committed online across borders, carries serious legal consequences,” Yada Hashim Williams said in a public statement issued on 26th July 2025. “The internet is not a shield for cowardly slanderers; accountability has no borders.”
The court found all allegations made by Mohamed Kutubu Koroma to be false and awarded Yada Hashim Williams $20,000 in judgment principal, $56 in costs, plus attorney’s fees, with provisions for a lien on any real property owned by the defendant if the damages are not paid.
Yada Hashim Williams emphasized that the ruling serves as a warning to those who misuse social media to malign others:
“There should be no safe haven for individuals who engage in such reprehensible behavior. This case underscores the importance of justice in safeguarding reputations in the digital age.”
The case has been widely viewed as a precedent-setting moment in cross-border defamation law, highlighting how courts can hold individuals accountable for online attacks regardless of geographic location.
