MONROVIA, Sept. 8 -- Businesswoman Stephanie Audrey Kpoto's US$500,000 defamation lawsuit against social-media commentator Martin K. N. Kollie has opened a new legal front in a controversy that has unfolded for months around allegations of narcotics trafficking, money laundering, political connections and alleged protection by powerful officials.

By Willie N. Tokpah

Kpoto has petitioned the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, for US$500,000 in damages, accusing Kollie of conducting what she describes as a relentless campaign to destroy her reputation by portraying her as an international drug trafficker, money launderer, fraudster and member of a transnational cocaine cartel.

Kpoto denies the allegations.

The lawsuit, however, ha...