Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has emphasized that his defamation case against former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, was never about financial gain but rather a principled stand for truth and justice.
Reacting to the recent court ruling in the United States, which slashed an earlier US$18 million jury award to just $500, Anas expressed satisfaction that the court did not uphold a single defamatory claim made against him. He noted that Agyapong had every opportunity to prove his allegations but failed to do so.
“The judgment speaks for itself,” Anas said in a May 11, 2025, press statement. “Despite the reduced damages, the court found that I was defamed. That is the real victory.”
In March 2025, a jury in New Jersey’s Essex County Superior Court ruled in Anas’ favor, concluding that Kennedy Agyapong had maliciously defamed him. However, Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur — a legal request to reduce a jury’s monetary award — which the judge granted, cutting the amount drastically.
Anas underscored that while monetary compensation was significantly lowered, the ruling sends a powerful message: defaming journalists comes with consequences. He framed the outcome as a broader warning to political figures not to trample on media freedoms.
“I remain committed to exposing corruption and holding the powerful to account,” Anas affirmed, adding that he will continue his mission to “name, shame, and jail” wrongdoers.
The Tiger Eye PI press release closed by reaffirming that the moral and legal vindication — not the dollar amount — was what truly mattered in this case.
Attached below is a copy of the Tiger Eye statement
11 May 2025 | PRESS RELEASE
OUR VICTORY IS IN THE JUDGEMENT AND NOT THE AWARD
As Ghanaians may recall, a couple of weeks ago, an American jury found Kennedy Agyapong guilty of maliciously defaming my character.
Consequent to the finding by the jury, an amount of $18M was awarded in my favour against Kennedy Agyapong.
Following the award, Kennedy Agyapong filed a motion for remittitur, asking the judge to reduce the amount awarded against him. Thus, inherent in his motion, Kennedy Agyapong admitted to having maliciously defamed me.
Today, the trial judge granted Kennedy Agyapong’s motion for remittitur and reduced the initial award to $500. This means that, while the judge held that Kennedy Agyapong had defamed me, in his reasoning, the award against Kennedy Agyapong by the jury was excessive.
Many avenues of redemption accrue to me. But, it is important to state, as I previously did, that, this fight has not been about the money, but rather, a fight for truth and justice.
I am happy that not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate.
I will continue in my relentless fight against corruption – and in doing that, continue to name, shame, and jail
Signed
Tiger Eye PI
