PHOTO: Emmanuel Gonquoi in smile on the court grounds today, after being sentenced
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE- The Monrovia City Court today, Friday sentenced the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) Emmanuel Gonquoi to three months in jail for recently attacking the Capitol Building by locking the gates of the seat of the Legislature.
Judge Jomah Jallah handed down the ruling on November 12, 2021, but the lawyer representing the controversial EFFL leader, Gonquoi, Cllr. Jimmy Bombo took exception and announced he was appeal against the ruling to the first Judicial Circuit Court.
On October 25, 2021, the court found him guilty for attacking the Capitol Building and it’s security guards on July 21, 2021.
FLASHBACK: Gongoi and his followers
Gonquoi and his men said they were locking the Capitol, because they were angry with Lawmakers for their failure to pass a law setting up a war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
The Court’s ruling says, after perusing the case file, it shows that on August 5, 2021, the Ministry of Justice by and thru the office of the City solicitor prayed for a writ of arrest to be issued and be served on the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia leader, Emmanuel Gonquoi and others to be identified on charges of terroristic threat, simple assault, felonious restraint and disorderly conduct.
The writ was issued and served under the jurisdiction of the Monrovia City Court.
The court said defendant Gonquoi was advised of his constitutional rights under Article 21 of the 1986 constitution of Liberia.
During the first call of the case, the defendant legal Counsels requested for a pre-trial conference in line with Chapter 12 of the Civil procedure law of Liberia which prosecution interposed no objection and it was granted by the court.
At the pre-trial conference hearing, prosecution was represented by City solicitor Atty. Wilson and Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus and Kano Wesso while, the defendant was represented by the Central law offices headed by Cllr. Jimmy Bombo.
During the pre-trial conference, convict Gonguoi confessed judgement and pleaded with court to temper judgement with mercy and that he regretted the incident by then on July 21, 2021 on the premises of the Capitol Building.
The case revealed that several notices of assignment were served and surety bonds filed in favor of the defendant.
“WHEREFORE and in view of the foregoing, coupled with facts and circumstances herein above it is the ruling of the court that defendant Gonquoi, John Doe I and John Doe Ii are guilty of the crime mentioned above in violation of Section 11.16,14.21 and 17.3 of the New penal code of the Republic of Liberia.”
But the defendant’s legal Counsel has taken an exception to the ruling by Judge Jomah Jallah and promised to take advantage of the statute regarding such judgement.