PHOTO: CPP leader’s bodyguard Justin Zigbou (Left) and Alex Cummings himself (Right)
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Liberian police investigation has established that the gun opposition leader Alexander Cummings’ bodyguard carried during last Saturday’s “We taya suffering” protest rally belongs to the elite state force, National Security Agency (NSA) directly controlled by the Executive Mansion.
How he obtained the weapon and when are yet to be established. But this comes just two weeks after top officials of President George Manneh Weah’s ruling CDC revealed that there were some top officials of government who they claimed were playing “double standards” and undermining the government.
The Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Standard Bearer Cummings’ personal bodyguard, Justin Zigbou now faces criminal charges in court, after being arrested by the Liberia National Police over the weekend at the CPP organized “We taya suffering” protest rally near Monrovia.
Cummings, who is former Coca Cola Africa executive, is also political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC).
Police on Monday, December 19, 2022 sent Zigbou to the Monrovia City Court for being in possession of an illegal weapon, which violates chapter 17 section 17.11 of the revised penal code law of Liberia.
The defendant was charged with the criminal offense of Possession and Sale of Physical Objects for Lethal Use, which contravenes Chapter 17 Section 17.11 of the revised penal code law of Liberia.
Chapter 17 section 17.11 states “A person not legally authorized to do so by the military or paramilitary nature of his service has committed a third degree felony, if he is found to be knowingly in possession of or has sold,
transferred, given or loaned to another any physical object possessed of lethal use, under circumstances not remotely appropriate to the lawful uses which such physical object may have caused.”
Defendant Zigbuo was arrested with a gun marked Jericho 941 PSL, IWI registered under the National Security Agency of the Republic of Liberia.
According to Police Charge sheet, on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the highly anticipated “We Tire Suffering ” Rally organized by the Collaborating Political Parties, the Liberia National Police received intelligence that the bodyguard to Alexander B. Cummings was in possession of a firearm.
Police said that immediately after receiving the information the Emergency Respond Unit (ERU) went to the scene at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex and arrested defendant Zigbuo with a black pistol marked Jericho 941 PSL, IWI (NSA 020) and brought him at the LNP headquarters for investigation.
Police noted that during the arrest, the defendant was informed of his Miranda Rights and had access to his Lawyer for legal representation.
The investigation said that the CSD in Charge of Quarters (Ranch) turned the weapon in the defendant turned over with a gun.
A police background investigation established that defendant Zigbuo was seen with the weapon by an eyewitness who claimed not to be identified.
When police interviewed defendant Zigbuo, he informed the investigator in the presence of his lawyers that he has nothing to say and that he chose to remain silent about such an allegation.
Given the above with evidence of the retrieval of black pistol mark Jericho 941 PSL, IWI (NSA 020) from defendant Zigbuo and has resolved to charge with the criminal offense of possession and sale of physical objects for Lethal use which violates Chapter 17, section 17.11 of the revised penal code of Liberia.
Meanwhile, the defendant’s lawyer- Atty. Lafayette Horatio Gould filed a surety bond to release the defendant. The offense as par the laws of Liberia is bailable.