Court Declares Him Citizen
FLASHBACK: Cllr. Nwabudike leaving the Court in July 2020 at the height of the controversy
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Criminal Court “B” presided over by Resident Circuit Judge Karboi K. Nuta has declared the controversial former Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) boss, Cllr. Ndubuisi Nwabudike full-fledged citizen of the Republic of Liberia.
The Judge says he will be accorded all the rights and privileges appertaining without prosecuting him for duping the Liberian system in almost all sectors.
Cllr. Nwabudike previously worked as Chairman of Governance commission and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and even attended the Louis Arthur Grime school of law and he was appointed as the National Elections commission when he was exposed for acquiring citizenship through fraudulent means during his confirmation hearing in 2020.
Nwabudike, whose nomination as NEC Chairman was withdrawn by President Weah after Senators accused him of lying about his Liberian naturalization, was expelled by the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) in June 2020.
LNBA investigation showed that the Nigerian-born Nwabudike acquired fraudulent citizenship. He later he filed a Writ of Prohibition to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
At the time, Lawyers defending the LACC boss said at a Supreme Court conference that the citizenship or nationality investigation of an individual lies within the purview of the Liberia Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice and other relevant institutions, not the LNBA.
Now, Criminal Court “B” Judge Nuta has stated that Cllr. Nwabudike has taken the Oath of Allegiance of the Republic of Liberia wherein he has relinquished all allegiance of the Republic from whence his father comes.
“You are under Oath that you will bear arms for our Republic when required by law to do so and that you will uphold the laws and Constitution of Liberia,” the Judge added.
Judge Nuta therefore ruled: “Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Resident Circuit Judge of this court, I do hereby now declare you a full-fledged citizen of the Republic of Liberia with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto. And it is hereby so ordered. Let me now welcome you as our newest citizen and congratulations.”
The court’s decision was based on the ruling made by the Supreme Court requesting the Minister of Justice to carry on an investigation on Cllr. Nwabudike as to whether he is a citizen or not.
Based on the investigation made by the Justice Ministry in a communication stated they have determined Cllr. Nwabudike is eligible to apply for certificate of citizenship nunc pro tunc, consistent with section 21.31(2) of the Alien and Nationality laws of Liberia.
According to the investigation report noted that Cllr. Nwabudike eligibility is supported by the records of the Liberia Immigration Service which established that his father acquired naturalization in 1954, prior to his birth in 1963.
Justice Ministry maintained, “Our determination is pursuance to section 21.31(1&2) and 21.50(f) of the Alien and Nationality law of Liberia.”
However, the Court noted that the matter was heard and determined with Cllr. Nwabudike meeting all requirements for the administration of the Oath of Allegiance that is the payment of US$ 600 in fulfillment.
For the part of the government, after the cross-examination process with the suspended Lawyer together with his witnesses and seeing them fit and consistent with the Alien and Nationality Laws of Liberia, they interposed no objection to his petition with duly qualified him to be a legitimate citizen of Liberia.
Earlier, Cllr. Nwabudike was rejected by the Liberian Senate and subsequently his appointment was withdrawn by President Weah, he filed a petition of Declaratory Judgement before the Civil law court. But he later withdrew his petition and filed a writ of prohibition before the Supreme Court.