The office of the Ombudsman has ruled a SUSPENDED fine of two thousand and five hundred United States dollars against Deputy Minister Anthony Kesselly of the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
The decision follows an investigation conducted by the office of the Ombudsman in which Deputy Minister Kesselly admitted to his action.
In his public statement which also contains his regret and apology for his action, Minister Kesselly stated that the Office of the Ombudsman, in its disposition, found words used in his reactions as standing in violation of portions of the Code of Conduct relative to Improper Behavior.
He narrated that as part of the findings from the investigation he was asked to make a public statement stating his regrets for the use of the particularly unacceptable language, “i declined to challenge the ruling even as I was accorded the right to do so. At the beginning of the the hearing I chose to waive my right to be represented by a lawyer”, he added.
Acknowledging his action, the Deputy Minister of State extended sincere regrets and apologies to every member of his reading audience, and members of the general public, who came across these harsh languages contained in his reactions on the social media.
“As I made known during the hearing, I have a very long history of engagement on multiple public platforms and and not indulged in such below the bar exchanges as the recent barrage of rude and sordid attacks on my person and those of eminent statesmen, women, and personalities pushed me to this resort”, he explained.
Minister Kesselly who promised not to shy away for a second in his effort to counter falsehoods, distortions, and outright lies being persistently peddled on social media, at the same time vow to do so by navigating his way far away from any language so considered unacceptable.
It can be recalled on March 13, 2025, at the invitation of the Office of the Ombudsman,
Deputy Minister at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs appeared at the headquarters of the Ombudsman on account of a complaint filed by Boye Kokoi alleging the violation of the Code of Conduct by way of the posting of language on Facebook considered inappropriate in view of the public office, he Kesselly currently hold.
According to the investigation, Minister Kesselly admitted to the exhibits that were attached to the complaint and presented even more evidence of even more gruesome language-filled posts that had been directed him on the same platforms.
” I did acknowledge that all of these languages were not suitable for civil exchange of views but noted that mine were a reaction to intense and persistent provocations. I expressed regrets that I had to go to this length with my attackers”, he noted.
Meanwhile, He used the ocassion to appreciate the Office of the Ombudsman for its rise to the occasion of discharging its duties of the Office.
