PHOTO: (L-R) Convict Pinky Abu, the President’s friend and the seat of the Judiciary
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia-What appeared to be a delay tactics by state prosecutors took at the Supreme Court today, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, with the Solicitor General (SG) not ready for the hearing into murder convict Pinky Abu’s appeal case, amid suspicion that her name has been placed on President George Weah’s pending Executive Clemency list.
The Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh was there, but the hearing could not take place in the absence of SG Cephus and the full prosecution team.
Pinky Abu was convicted in 2019 for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend Morris Johnson at their home after a commotion at the Pepper Fish entertainment center along the Roberts International Airport highway.
Earlier this week, credible information reaching www.newspublictrust.com said Pinky, who is said to be a close/special friend to President George Manneh Weah, is poised to be granted executive clemency, as her name is on the President clemency list of 500 inmates anytime soon. Pinky Abu, Pres. Weah’s Good Friend To Benefit From Executive Clemency? – News Public Trust
The Ministry of Justice was given notice of assignment after the Supreme Court opened for its March term of court. But to the Surprise of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices, Cllr. Wesseh who represented the Ministry of Justice at the hearing, said the case file wasn’t given to them sooner, because it was in the office of the then County Attorney Edwin Kla Martin’s office.
Cllr. Wesseh therefore, asked the high court for continuance for one week into the matter on ground that his boss (Cllr. Cephus) is still compelling their brief.
In the United States a brief is a written legal argument that is presented to a court to aid it in reaching a conclusion on the legal issues involved in the case. It is invariably employed in appellate courts and is of the utmost importance when no oral argument is made.
The Supreme Court has therefore granted the request made by state lawyers pending notice of assignment.
Defendant Pinky Abu was represented by the Sayeh and Sayeh law firm and present in court were Cllr. Wilfred Sayeh and Cllr. Augustine Toe, who interposed no objection to prosecution request.