Dr. Jallah Barbu, a renowned Liberian Lawyer and University of Liberia Law School Professor has debunked claims made by Justice Minister Cllr. Musa Dean that the planned December 30 “Weah step down” protest is unconstitutional.
On Monday, December 2,3019, the Ministry of Justice rejected the Council of Patriots’ (COP) request to carry out its planned ’WEAH STEP DOWN’ protest expected to take place on 30 December,2019, terming it as unconstitutional and potentially treasonous.
Justice Minister Dean said the Supreme Court of Liberia had ruled that such an action is unconstitutional in a Ruling.
But speaking at a media Law and regulations forum in Monrovia on Tuesday after being asked where such ruling can be located, Cllr. Barbu said this is not true.
“There is no Opinion of the Supreme Court that has come up with this. The Court will never, ever give an Advisory Opinion. No such case of step down protest has come up before the court. No, the court hasn’t said that,” said Cllr. Jallah, who was once Chairman of the National Law Reform Commission during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The COP wrote the Justice Ministry on November 11, 2019, requesting a permit, safety and protection to carry out its peaceful assembly beginning December 30th.
Quoting Article 2 of the Liberian constitution, Cllr. Barbu said it gives Liberians the right to petition their leaders, when they are not governing the country in line with the laws of the country.
But in a press release issued in Monrovia, Justice Minister Dean cautioned the leadership of the COP to discontinue its mobilization for the protest.
Cllr. Dean said the current Administration was democratically elected, emphasizing that any attempt to force the President to step down is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
He warned that the leadership of the COP will be held liable for consequences from their actions.
The release also quotes the Justice Minister as saying the Government of Liberia cannot permit any unconstitutional process against the peace and stability of the Country.
Meanwhile, the Council of Patriots has not officially responded to the Justice Ministry’s rejection of the protest.