PHOTO: Emmanuel Gonquoi
By Our Staff Writer
After yielding to a Writ of arrest by the Monrovia City Court on Monday, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL), Emmanuel Gonquoi and two of his officials appeared in court but were unable to secure a criminal appearance bond, thus being whisked off to the Monrovia Central Prison.
The court presided over by Judge Jomah Jallah last week issued a Writ of arrest for Gonquoi and others based on the request of the Ministry of Justice Chief prosecutor and Solicitor General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephas.
The action of the Ministry of Justice was triggered by the unlawful lacking of the Capitol building on July 21, 2021, by the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia head and some other members on ground that lawmakers are delaying to sign the war and economic crimes court.
Emmanuel Gonquoi, who is referred to as the “Commander-In-Chief” of the EFFL, and others crimes are terroristic threats, simple assault, felonious restraint and disorderly conduct.
In interview with a local radio, OK FM on Monday morning, Mr. Gonquoi however, defended his group’s recent action to lock the main entrance to the Capitol Building and place chain on the gate, something that was later removed by security forces. It was a series of protest actions the group has planned to also demand Lawmakers to return the US$30,000 they each recently pocketed as “Legislative engagement fund”.
The Lawyer of the EFFl officials, Cllr. Findley Kangar told Journalists at the Temple of Justice on Monday, August 9, 2021, that Gonquoi had committed no crime and that they were doing everything to secure a bail bond.
The writ of arrest stated:
“You are hereby commanded to arrest the living bodies of Emmanuel Gonqueh and other to be identified, Defendants and forthwith bring them before the Monroe City Magisterial Court, Temple of Justice to answer to the charge of terroristic threats, simple assault, felonious restraint and disorderly conduct based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru the Ministry of Justice plaintiff in which it is substantially alleged as follows,
That during the period of July 21,2021, about 5:30 am in the area of Capitol bye pass, the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, the within named defendants being a group dressed in red t-shirt said to have come EFFL headed by Co-defendant Emmanuel Gonqueh went to the premises of the Capitol building and purposely with violent attacked the gate of the Capitol building opposite the Executive Mansion beat and inflicted wounds and injuries on the security guards assigned there, raining insults publicly and intentionally broke the lock before installing their own chains with lacks with the intent to terrorize the public, staff and employees thereat.
The alleged act of the defendant being unlawful, wicked, illegal violent and intentional is in violation of section 11.16 of the amended act of section 14.21 and 17.3 of the New Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia there and then the crime herein the defendants did do and commit.”