Liberia: Justice Ministry Criticizes Infamous Drug Trial Verdict
MONROVIA — The Ministry of Justice has described as appalling the not guilty verdict of Criminal Court “A” of the first judicial Circuit of Montserrado County at the Temple of Justice presided over by Judge A. Blamo Dixon in the 100-million drug bust trial. What more can the joint security and the Justice Ministry do to convince the court that the law was broken” he retorted. The Justice Minister said the ruling has also brought Liberia to international ridicule. Meanwhile, the joint security is now continuing to mount its search for the four men who continue to remain at large. In October last year, a huge consignment of 520-kilograms drugs with a street value of about U.S.$100 million was seized by the Joint Security of Liberia through an international security collaboration involving the American and Brazilian Authorities.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 21, 2023 19:37 UTC
Liberia: Senators Koung, Karnga-Lawrence Call for Joseph Boakai’s Absence from Campaign Trail Unveils Curious Motives
Nonetheless, Senators Koung and Karnga-Lawrence expressed in their speeches that they would advise the standard bearer to refrain from participating in the campaign and instead await his induction. We’ll tell Boakai go find a place in Lofa and go on vacation, we do not need you on the campaign trail. But as his vice standard bearer and Sen. Karnga-Lawrence have started speaking of his absence during the campaign period, FrontPageAfrica has gathered that Amb. According to medical sources, the Unity Party standard bearer is increasingly experiencing shortness of breath due to palpitations (irregular heartbeat). The Unity Party’s standard bearer has faced criticism for allegedly being too frail to compete in the election.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 20, 2023 03:15 UTC
Shock Verdict: All Defendants Acquitted in High-Stakes Cocaine Trial, Raising Doubts on Liberia’s Justice System
MONROVIA – In a stunning turn of events, the jurors at Criminal Court ‘C’ reached a unanimous not-guilty verdict on Thursday, exonerating all four defendants accused of involvement in an alleged scheme to import a staggering 520kg of cocaine into Liberia. The unexpected verdict has sparked widespread debate and raised questions about the efficacy of the prosecution’s case. The court has also ruled that the US$200,000 that was seized from the men by the Liberian government be returned to them. According to TRH Trading, the accused doubled their offer to US$400,000 within less than eight hours, and finally to US$1 million. According to the report, Judges reportedly solicited bribes to try cases, grant bail to detainees, award damages in civil cases, or acquit defendants in criminal cases.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 19, 2023 20:27 UTC
More than 100 People Dead in Communal Clashes in Central Nigeria
.... Intercommunal conflict has killed hundreds of people in recent years in Nigeria’s ethnically and religiously diverse Middle Belt region. The death toll from fighting between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s north-central state of Plateau has risen above 100 with locals searching in the bush for more bodies, residents and local authorities say. Mangu local government chairman Minista Daniel Daput said a mass burial had been conducted for about 50 people. Plateau is one of several ethnically and religiously diverse hinterland states known as Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where intercommunal conflict has killed hundreds of people in recent years. The violence is often painted as an ethno-religious conflict between nomadic Muslim herders – mostly ethnic Fulani – and mainly Christian Indigenous farmers.
Source:Daily Observer
May 19, 2023 19:50 UTC
VP Taylor, Speaker, Defy Memo Against Politicizing Capitol Joint Chambers
The day after the staff endorsement of the Boakai-Koung ticket, the Capitol security, through its director, issued a warning against staffers who would insult the President and use the Capitol building’s joint chambers for party politicking and political rallies. Capitol security warning: On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the Capitol security issued a warning to staffers of the Liberian Senate against insulting the President, especially during political events. The Director of Security, Mr. Dyonisious M. Wisseh, stressed that the Capitol Building grounds should not be used to issue invectives and provocations against the Liberian Presidency. Staff who go against this warning will be doing so at their own risk. This warning comes two days after Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence endorsed the same ticket, rallying all Liberians to join her in supporting Amb.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 19, 2023 19:47 UTC
Liberia: Eugene Nagbe Criticizes Former VP Boakai and Running Mate’s Track Record, Saying They Lack Record of Rescue
Over the weekend, Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence endorsed the ticket of Boakai and Koung. Nyonblee said her alignment with the team is to help rescue Liberia. He added that these were the same endorsements the former Vice President got when he beat 14 counties out of 15 counties in 2017. “Senator Johnson Doesn’t Own Nimba County” – Commissioner Nagbe SaysAdditionally, Mr. Nagbe says that contrary to what many think, Senator Prince Johnson does not own Nimba County. Senator Johnson will be well defeated in Nimba County in this election by a candidate of the Coalition,” he said.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 18, 2023 14:36 UTC
Land Dispute Causes Fear and Anxiety for Residents of Dixville, Montserrado County
Monrovia – Residents of Dixville Township in District 11, Montserrado County, have raised an alarm over constant fear due to a disputed land crisis within their community. She wondered where George Wleh, a son to the woman whose mother bought the land, is claiming ownership of the land. Also speaking to reporters on the disputed land issue was one of the residents and victims, Lewis S.W. Pyne Sr., who stressed that the land matter is a serious national security concern that needs to be addressed in a timely manner and form. Both parties have presented documents showing legitimate ownership of the disputed land.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 18, 2023 14:12 UTC
Liberia: U-20 Women Football Team Will Not Participate in WAFU
Monrovia – The Liberia Football Association has confirmed that the women’s under-20 team will not participate in the WAFU U20 women’s cup, which will be hosted in Sierra Leone. According to the Liberia Football Association, the team did not sign up for the WAFU-20 tournament due to technical and financial reasons. “This is very disheartening news about Liberian football that our women U20 team will not be participating in the WAFU tournament. “I believe that this administration is not interested in women’s football, because FIFA and CAF have put a lot of money into women’s football, but today we come back to say no money or age issue. He said that the gap between women’s football and men’s football is wide, something he said needs to stop giving reference to the upcoming male under-17 and U-20 team trip to Tunisia for training camp.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 18, 2023 13:16 UTC
Liberia: Police Arrest Turkish Men Involved in Illegal Logging
By Mark B. Newa, with The DayLightPolice in Nimba County have arrested two of a number of Turkish loggers for illegal logging activities, forestry authorities said. Hasan Uzan and Umit Gungor of Askon Liberia General Trading Inc. are in police custody following their arrest last night, according to Cllr. The FDA has also banned Askon from forestry activities and barred Hasan Uzan, Faith Uzan and Yeter Uzan. Authorities are still looking for Yeter Uzan and Faith Uzan, Askon’s two other shareholders. Yeter Uzan holds 10 percent and Faith Uzan five percent.
Source:Daily Observer
May 18, 2023 07:30 UTC
Political Stakeholders on High Alert as U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Nigerian Election Meddlers – A Possible Premonition for Liberia
The U.S. President made the call at a private meeting attended by his top advisors, with President Weah and his counterparts at the White House. Also participating were Gabon’s Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been president since 2009, and Madagascar’s President Andry Nirina Rajoelina. On 4 April, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi, Liberia, leaders from 27 of 31 political parties signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023, an enhanced and comprehensive declaration designed to ensure a nonviolent electoral process. The NEC Chairperson expressed the Commission’s gratitude to all political parties and alliances for their contribution to the milestone electoral sojourn of the Farmington River Declaration 2017. In his keynote address, President Weah historicized the 2017 “Farmington River Declaration” and emphasized the need for peaceful and orderly elections in October 2023.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2023 18:48 UTC
Liberia: Legislative Staffers Pledge Support to Boakai-Koung Ticket, Celebrate Sen. Kargar-Lawrence for Endorsing Unity Party
On Tuesday, a group of Legislative staffers declared their unflinching support to the presidential and vice-presidential bids of Amb. “Honorable Senators and the incoming Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, we, the legislative staffers have called you here today to celebrate and express our confidence in you. Boakai came under staunch criticisms for snubbing Sen. Karngar-Lawrence, the Liberty Party political leader who spent years supporting his presidential ambition. As the result, it was widely predicted that Sen. Karngar-Lawrence would break ties with the former Vice President and chat her own course. They presented certificates of appreciation to Senator Karngar-Lawrence and Abraham Darius Dillon for “putting nation before self” by endorsing the Boakai-Koung ticket.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2023 14:10 UTC
Adama Dempster Discusses Liberia’s War Crimes Issues with US Ambassador on War Crimes in the US
The meeting was attended by civil society, the human rights community, victims, members of Congress, senior Democrat and Republican Congressional staffers, and US State Department staff. The purpose of the meeting was to present a recent Resolution for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia. By Mae Azango [email protected]During the meeting, Mr. Dempster presented the recent Resolution, which was endorsed by civil society, justice campaigners, war victims/survivors, and the human rights community of Liberia. Dempster also discussed the needs for justice in Liberia with Congressional staff on Capitol Hill. President Weah has an opportunity to deliver on longstanding needs ahead of the August anniversary by at last taking concrete steps to begin the process to establish a war crimes court.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2023 07:31 UTC
Liberia: ‘Kessie Is Aware of This Story’ – Says Gustave Bailly Uncle of Franck Kessie
Monrovia – The uncle of Barcelona and Ivorian midfielder Gustave Bailly has admitted that the African star is aware of the news of a Liberian woman claiming to be his biological mother. By: Christopher C.Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075It was reported in early May that, after years of searching, Nancy Pyne, a Liberian woman, claims that Ivorian football superstar Franck Yannick Kessie is her son. Nancy Pyne, in an interview, said, “My two children (Ketteku & Kessie) father, Bruno, was a short, black man, and easygoing. In an interview, Nancy Pyne said, “My two children (Ketteku & Kessie) father, Bruno, was a short, black man and easy going. One may think his trip was to meet his brother to discuss the issue of a Liberian woman claiming they are her children.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2023 07:31 UTC
Liberia: Corruption Allegations Against Jeremiah Koung as the Senator Becomes UP Vice Presidential Aspirant
..., It is no longer a secret that Senator Jeremiah Koung has emerged as a powerful symbol of the rotten sweetness of democratized corruption in Liberia. It is no longer a secret that Senator Jeremiah Koung has emerged as a powerful symbol of the rotten sweetness of democratized corruption in Liberia. To say Senator Koung along with his political godfather, Senator Prince Yomie Johnson are the most potent political operatives is not an overstatement. Senator Jeremiah Koung and his political godfather, Senator Prince Yomie Johnson are smooth political operators that belong to the MDR. Joseph Boakai has limited the anti-corruption fight with his collaborations with the likes of Jeremiah Koung, Prince Johnson, etc.
Source:Daily Observer
May 16, 2023 19:24 UTC
Liberia: NEC, Political Parties Sign MOU on Gender Quota
The National Elections Commission and political parties have signed an MOU to ensure a minimum of 30% female representation for October 10 elections. The National Elections Commission has signed a 30% gender qouta MOU with political parties to increase the slot of female candiates for October 10 polls. It would have empowered the electoral body to fine or delist any political parties that failed to adhere to the gender quotas. Meanwhile, the UN has lauded political parties that have taken concrete steps to include 40 percent or more women on their candidate listings. This, the UN, noted demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering more internally democratic political parties and to achieving a more inclusive and equitable Liberia.
Source:Daily Observer
May 16, 2023 13:30 UTC