-LNBA requests Court to Intervene as Party Respondent to Gov’t in the Case
By Garmah Never Lomo- TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia
The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) has filed a ten-count motion at the Civil law to grant their motion to intervene as a party respondent into the petition of declaratory judgement by NEC withdrew Chairman, Cllr. Ndubusi Nwabudike against the government of Liberia.
The Court is being presided over by his Judge Kennedy Peabody.
According to the ten count motions filed by the LNBA, at the sitting of the executive council of the LNBA on the 31th day of March A.D. 2020, it was Unanimously resolved that the Grievance the Ethics Committee was authorized to conduct an investigation into an alleged ethical breach by one of its members, Cllr. A. Ndubusi Nwabudike as it relates to claim of his naturalization and citizenship as a Liberian.
When he faced the Senate Confirmation hearing at the Capitol Building in Monrovia recently, Nwabudike failed to convince Lawmaker about the validity of his nationality papers, with some accusing him of perjury. But in the wake of the controversy, President George Weah withdrew his nomination without explanation.
LNBA’s National Executive Council further authorized the Executive council Committee to institute any action arising out of such matter and to ensure that it is brought to a logical conclusion.
It said the resolution is attached and mark exhibit M/1 to form an integral component of this intervenor’s motion to Intervene.
The LNBA’s motion to Intervene as Party Respondent further stated that one statute provides that upon timely application any person shall be allowed to Intervene in an action: (a) when the statute of the Republic of Liberia confers an unconditional right to Intervene, (b) when the representative of the applicant’s interest by existing parties is or may be inadequate and applicant is or may be bound by a judgement of the action in line with Chapter 5, section 5.61(a)1LCL Revised page 71&72.
The New Judiciary law of Liberia further provides that upon his own information, or upon complaint of any person including judge May maintain or any organized Bar Association, the Ministry of Justice May maintain an action for injunctive relief in the circuit Court against any person who renders, offers, or holds himself out as rendering any service which constitute the unauthorized practice of the law.
Also, any organized Bar Association may always maintain the action or may for good cause shown intervene in the action initially by the Ministry of Justice at any stage of the proceedings Chapter 17, section 17.8(1) page 164 in line with Liberia revised code, the LNBA added.
The Movant says that because for an alien to be allowed to practice law in the Republic of Liberia such person must show by all empirical evidence that he/ she has met the legal requirements under the alien and nationality laws of Liberia and by the conflicting information the petitioner provided to the Senate Committee; especially on his citizenship and years of births claimed the attention of the movant as a regulatory body, which also has the mandate to investigate as to person(s) who are allowed to participate law in the Republic of Liberia.
Further, the movant, via a resolution signed by its executive committee on March 31, 2020 its standing Committee, the Grievances and ethics committee to inquire into the citizenship of the petitioner, Nwabudike.