-Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) dismisses senior officer
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Amidst reports of the arrest of vocal talk show host and Council of Patriots (COP) leader, Henry Costa, his Lawyer, Cllr. Finley Kangar’s movement has been seized by the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).
LIS has accused Cllr. Karnga of failing to produce his client (Costa) for further investigations into the talk show host’s alleged forging of a laissez-passer.
At the same time, a senior officer of the LIS identified as Fred Weah has been dismissed by the LIS for allegedly releasing sensitive information to some pro-CDCian journalist.
An online news website, NEWS CENTRAL repots today (Wednesday, January 15, 2020 quoted the
local media in Sierra Leone as saying, Mr. Costa was stopped from boarding a
plane in Liberia on Friday for allegedly possessing forged travel documents.
The news outlet says Costa was meant to present himself to
Liberian authorities on Wednesday, but was detained at the airport in Freetown,
capital of Sierra Leone, media reported.
NEWS CENTRAL also reports that Costa said, “Don’t worry. I will be okay. The Sierra Leone authorities are being very professional and nice to me.”
In Monrovia, his Lawyer Cllr. Kangar told Reporters at the LIS head office in Monrovia on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 said he has been told by LIS boss Robert Budy that his movement has been restricted and he should report to his office on a regular basis something Cllr. Kangar frowned on and said it it an affront to him.
He was informed by the LIS boss that his client has been arrested in Sierra Leone undergoing investigation and he has been representing Costa and is still representing him.
The COP leader’s lawyer told newsmen that these are trying time and he a human right advocate will not give up and the law of the land must be obeyed.
Cllr. Kangar said his lawyers are contemplating on the appropriate legal action against the government and he has not been inform about any extradition proceeding his client.
Also speaking to team of reporters is the lead lawyer representing Cllr. Kangar, Atty. Kofi Woods, a former Public Works Minister, who said he and other lawyers are representing Cllr. Kangar.
Atty. Woods said Cllr. Kangar was invited by the LIS to know where his client is indicating that he cannot confirm the arrest of Mr. Costa.
Cllr. Finley Kangar was also represented by Lawyers Alyolsuis Toe and Denise Sogan.
One part of the report says Mr. Costa is currently in the possession of the Sierra Leone Immigration undergoing investigation but no extradition for now.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Immigration Service last evening issued press statement that Mr. Costa could be decleared wanted if he and his lawyer failed to attend the ongoing investigation into his Lesser-passer said and he has since been declared wanted by the LIS.