Ahead Attributes The 14 Years Of Conflict To Unfair Justice
BY J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- A predate assigned here at the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Bong County has underscored the need to uphold and sustain justice, ahead of the October 10 presidential and legislative elections.
“Justice strengthens the peace of the country,” Rev. Moses Myakpan asserted during the official February Term of court opening in Gbarnga on Monday, February 13, 2023.
The Liberian cleric stressed that the peace of Liberia can be sustained, if justice is rightly dispensed.
He urged citizens to maintain the peace by peacefully selecting their leaders.
According to him, justice must be the bedrock for any nation.
He noted that Liberia’s 14 years of civil unrest was largely due to unfair justice, whilst calling for transformed minds of citizens across the country.
Rev. Myakpan was delivering a 10-minute exhortation at the opening of the circuit court on the theme, Justice sustains Democracy of a nation with a reference point of Exodus 18:20-23.
In the upcoming election, incumbent President George Manneh Weah is seeking another six years’ mandate, but already his ruling CDC party is under pressure for pre- campaigning after printing thousands of political T-shirts and erecting billboards displaying Weah’s photos across the country.
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) – the biggest Liberian election observation body- has also condemned pre-campaigning.
Meanwhile, the ninth judicial Circuit and the Sexual offenses courts have officially opened for the February A.D 2023 Term of Court in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The opening is in consonance with chapter 3.8 of the judicial law of Liberia.
Judge Cornelius Flomo Wennah
“Each judicial circuit shall meet four times a year in quarterly sessions. The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Judicial Circuits of the Circuit Court shall open their quarterly sessions on the second Monday in February, May, August, and November in each year. The quarterly sessions of these circuits shall be entitled the February, May, August and November sessions”.
Delivering His official charge at the court, Criminal Court “E” Judge, Cornelius Flomo Wennah first called for a moment of silence over the passing of former debt Court Judge of Bong, Attorney Johnny K. Bemah and Cllr. Patrick Williams. The duo died recently.
Judge Wennah spoke of the absence of assigned Jjudge J. Boimah Kontoe, although he didn’t elaborate.
He admonished perspective jurors to dispense justice in accordance with the law.
“While we’re regretting the setback for the last term of Court, we urge you to serve with passion,” he underscored.
“With the power vested in me, I hereby declare the court officially open for normal businesses” he declared.
In response, Bong County Attorney Jonathan Flomo also sought the opportunity to record the historic relationship with the fallen colleagues.
He also encouraged the perspective jurors to serve rightly stressing that “the people lives and properties will come before you and you will have to fairly judge it. Don’t be corrupt”.
Also speaking during the opening ceremony, the County Magisterial Court Coordinator, Titus Railey decried the lack of typewriters, deployable housing facilities that host various courts in the county, among others as challenges confronting them.
Mr. Raily is seeking a timely redress to ensure dignity to the judicial system.
“Your Honor and everyone in here; let me register with grief that our courts are challenged. They lack as common as typewriters, the facilities that host our court are in deployable conditions, among other challenges. Our magistrates are suffering- in fact, we are suffering. There is a need for timely redress from government and partners,” he lamented.
Currently, there are 39 sexual offensive cases with 60 criminal cases, summing to 99 cases on the courts dockets for the February A.D. 2023 Term of Court.