By Jenneh Braima
The Independent Media Commission has condemned a controversial publication by the Independent Observer newspaper in its February 6 2015 edition attacking Dr. Sylvia Blyden, proprietor of the Awareness Times newspaper.
The Independent Observer`s managing editor, Jonathan Leigh, was reprimanded for alleging that Blyden, who recently served as Special Executive Assistant to President Ernest Bai Koroma, was involved in a sexual relationship with US-based Reverend Kabbs Kanu, Sierra Leone`s representative to the United Nations.
The IMC statement said that was completely against the Commission`s media cord of practice and all code of ethics.
Because of this, it has warned all other media houses to desist from further commenting on the issue until it is properly investigated by the complaint committee.
“Whilst the Commission frowns at the breach of its Code of Practice, it is also warning all other media houses to desist from further commenting on this issue until it is properly investigated by the Complaints Committee,” the Commission says.
Reverend Kabs Kanu called the allegations in the article “false” and “misleading.” He said no such relationship ever existed between him and Dr. Blyden, whom he said he met for the first time in person only in march 2013, when she formed part of the presidential delegation to the UN.
© Politico 10/02/15
