The Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Health Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma has filed a lawsuit against the Samoa Observer alleging defamation for publishing details of investment loans paid out by the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF). 

The $300,000 lawsuit for damages alleged the publications from the only daily newspaper in Samoa on 27 February 2024 and 29 February 2024 implied that the “plaintiff has one of the three largest loans approved by SNPF.” 

Aiono also claimed the publication implied he personally received the loan from SNPF when it was his company Ekeroma Properties Limited of which he is the sole director and shareholder. Ekeroma Properties Limited operates a hotel accommodation and a private hospital in Moto’otua.  

Furthermore, he alleged the loans granted from SNPF implied it was done because of “favouritism” and “the plaintiff acted corruptly in obtaining the loan” and inferred his business “is at a financial loss” and “unable to repay the loan”. 

“By reason of the publication of the statement or words referred to in the articles hereof, the plaintiff was and has been exposed to ridicule and contempt resulting in his reputation and standing in his respective community and also his positions in his profession being seriously injured and impaired,” the statement of claim noted. 

“As a result of the publication of those statements, the plaintiff's reputation has been seriously damaged and he has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.”

Aiono is relying on grounds that the newspaper did not confirm the correctness of the various assertions before publishing the allegations and claimed the publication was motivated by malice. 

The Samoa Observer Editorial Board is defending its decision to publish details of the investment loans funded from the nation’s retirement fund. A tune of $67 million was loaned out to six borrowers within nine months. 

At the time there was a public outcry from contributors on the suspension of the smaller lending schemes from January 2024 while in contrast six borrowers were granted loans amounting to millions. 

One of the articles in question referred to documents obtained by the Samoa Observer that revealed the largest loans approved by the SNPF Board with three of the borrowers, Samoa Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church (SISDAC), Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey and Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma granted additional loans in millions during the short period. 

The Samoa Observer has sought the services of counsel Leinafo Taimalelagi Strickland to represent the newspaper.