By Tokpa Tarnue, tarnue-tarnue82@gmail.com
Voinjama, Liberia- The 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama city in Liberia’s northwestern Lofa County has opened for its November AD 2018 Term of Court.
Speaking under the theme, The Importance of Pursuing the Path of Fair and Impartial Justice as the Rule of Law and Justice Actors, the County’s Resident Circuit Judge Nancy Sammy said it was a renewed hope and a greater determination to pursue the path of fair and impartial Justice.
This justice, she said “is not influenced by emotions, selfish and self-centered notions, which are bare and hopelessly wanting of a legal and evidentiary background,” noting that only legal issues may receive consideration of the 10th Judicial Circuit Court.
Judge Nancy Sammy added that in the performance of the sacred duties as Dispensers of justice, and be it at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court or Magisterial Court in Lofa County, the security of the state and human beings in Liberia will and must be given priority consideration.
She pointed out that those whose life, limb and property are secured under the protective arms of the state, weather Liberians or foreigners are also under obligation to respect the rule of law and the rights of others at all times.
“National policy of free enterprise, national stability and impartial justice under the law, is the cornerstone to the conduct progress Liberians justly earn, regardless of the limited opportunities” Resident Judge Sammy noted.
“While it is true that the dignity of the Court is not above the liberty of the citizens, that dignity and authority must be respected,” She added.
She also disclosed that there are 22 cases on the Trial docket of which 11 are criminal, 6 civil, 1 appeal and 4 summary proceeding against Magistrates.
The criminal cases comprises four (4) armed robbery, one (1) murder, one (1) gang rape, one (1) manslaughter, one (1) criminal attempt to commit murder and one (1) violation of privacy, according to Judge Sammy.
The Lofa County Circuit Court Judge concluded by urging Magistrates and her colleagues of the Lofa County Bar Association to consolidate faith and confidence thereby making the Liberian Judiciary an example of fair and impartial justice under the law.
She also reminded members of the Lofa Bar Association of their responsibilities and to keep in mind always that once they took the oath as Attorneys and Counselors At-Law of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia. And they must assume the responsibility of upholding and defending the constitution and also upholding the dignity of the Courts and also looking after their clients, as well as propagating the interest of the Lofa Bar Association.
Remarking at the program, Lofa County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba called on the Court to speedily investigate a case involving three persons into the death of a Guinea National, who was allegedly killed and threw into a river between Yelah town in Zorzor district in Lofa county and Guinea.
“My office continues to receive complaints from Guineans authorities calling for a speedy trail into case involving the death of their kinsman in order to promote peace amongst the two countries,” Superintendent Kamba added.
Speaking further, Superintendent Kamba expressed concerns over the issue of over crowdedness at the central prison on the outskirts of Voinjama city, which was constructed in the 1970s to accommodate at least 45 inmates.
But with a current statistics of 85 inmates; something according to Superintendent is now causing serious embarassagment for prison authority at the facility.
“There is a need to build additional prisons in Kolahun and Zorzor which I believe will address the issue of over crowdedness” the Lofa boss emphasized.
Meanwhile, a 2017 graduate of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law was also admitted as Attorney At-Law into the Lofa County Bar Association.
Judge L Ben Barco of the Traffic Court of Margibi County was presented for admittance by the outgoing president of the Lofa County Bar Association Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu.
Traditional, religious, securities, government officials and as well as the ordinary citizens and youth attended the opening ceremony of the November AD 2018 Term of Court held at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama, Lofa County.