Why The Chief Justice Actions Is Considered “Illegal And Unlawful”?
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com/newspublictrust@gmail.com
The contempt charges against the controversial social media figure, Justine Oldpa Yeazeahn, alias “Prophet Key”, who was last Friday given a six-month jail term, stemmed from his online statements verbally attacking Chief Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay and his mother. In addition to that, Prophet Key accused the Supreme Court of corruption.
So, the Chief Justice in this case, that has drawn huge public interest, was effectively playing a role of a complainant and the Jurist to directly preside over said case, a Liberian legal expert abroad has pointed out.
A Liberian legal observer told www.newspublictrust.com over the weekend that in these circumstances, it would have been legally prudent for Chief Justice Gbeisay to recues himself and allow one of the Associate Justices on the Supreme Court bench to have presided over the case in line with Liberia’s Judiciary Act.
In the case in question, the Chief Justice was effectively the complainant and at the same time the Justice who presided over the case involving Prophet Key, who was held in contempt for insulting the Chief Justice’s mother and accusing the Supreme Court of corruption.
The legal observer, who frowned on the scale of public insults being unleashed in various quarters in the Liberian society including on social media and radio platforms, however expressed reservation over “excessive” penalties imposed on Prophet Key in the Supreme Court’s ruling at the weekend.
He described the punitive actions taken against the controversial Liberian social media figure as “excessive”, as the controversial social media figure was sentenced to six months in prison instead of 30 days as provided by Liberian law.
“The defendant was found guilty of contempt. Contempt per the current legislation is a fine of $500 USD. Failure to pay leads to imprisonment for 30 days. Incarceration of the defendant for 60 days plus fines, and publication in five daily newspapers is excessive, illegal and unlawful,” the Liberian legal observer said.
Powers given to courts to punish for criminal contempts
The Liberian legal expert also raised concern about the degree of punishment for criminal contempt that should be in line with power given to courts under Liberian law.
He also noted that currently, there is no social media law in effect in Liberia that would have informed the ruling of the Chief Justice.
In its ruling on Friday, February 13, 2026, the Supreme Court said Prophet Key’s actions are contemptuous and damaging to the integrity of the judiciary, something that warrants a ‘custodial sentence’.
The high court also directed the controversial social media figure to file a bond committing never again to use invectives or inflammatory language that violate the nation’s values.
In addition to the jail term, the Supreme Court ordered Prophet Key to publish a formal apology to the court and Liberian women for five consecutive days.
Two years ago in February 2024, the controversial social media figure, “Prophet Key” was at the Temple of Justice, the seat of the Liberian Judiciary in Monrovia, in another court case for lashing insults. At that time, it was a lawsuit brought against him by former Liberian Cultural Ambassador, Julie Endee but left without being sent to jail. “Prophet Key” Escapes The Wrath Of Protesting Women On The Grounds Of Monrovia Court – News Public Trust
Since last Friday, February 13, 2026, the controversial Liberian social media figure has been incarcerated in the Monrovia Central Prison, where he is to spend the next six months.