-But Costa says it’s “Garbage”
By William Selmah, wselmah@gmail.com
Liberian Lawyer, who runs the Africa Center for Law and Humana Rights in Washington DC, USA, Cllr. Frederick A.B. Jayweh, has joined the fray over alleged bribing of COP officials to call off the December 30, 2019 anti-government protest.
In the wake of recent claims by Ambassador Rufus Neufville that some officials of the COP took $200,000 in bribe to call off last Monday’s protest, the prominent Liberian human rights lawyer has taken issue with leaders and executive members of the group, terming them as “hustlers and fraudsters”.
Vocal talk show host, Henry Costa is the leader of COP.
Reacting to a January 31, 2019 report carried by www.newspublictrust.com , Cllr. Jayeeh writes: “Absolutely, every Liberian should know by now that Henry P. Costa and the Executive Members of CoP, are simple hustlers and fraudsters. A while ago, Mr. Henry P. Costa in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), he (Henry P. Costa) informed the world that after Mr. George Manneh Weah was elected President of Liberia in 2017, he, Henry P. Costa swiftly packed his so-called journalistic bags, fled and took refuge and safety in the Camp of the George Manneh Weah-led Government. For nearly 10 months,”
The head of a breakaway group of COP, Independent Council of Patriots (INCOP) on December 30, 2019, Rufus Neufville alleged that unnamed Government agents delivered $200,000 to four leaders of the COP (Senator Darius Dillon, Rep. Yekeh Kolubah, Henry Costa and Mo Ali) as inducement to cancel the planned protest in the early hours Monday, December 29, 2019, the day of the protest meant to highlight the “harsh economic conditions” in the country and “widespread corruption” in Government.
“The government views the claim which was made by Rufus Neufville, Chairman of the Independent Council of Patriots group, as grave and troubling. The government has therefore ordered a speedy investigation into the allegation,” says a press release from the Ministry of Information signed by its Minister, Lenn Eugene Nagbe.
Cllr. Jayweh claims that Mr. Costa previously served as a praise singer of President Weah, adding, “Mr. Costa in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) informed the world that after Mr. George Manneh Weah was elected President of Liberia in 2017, he, Henry P. Costa swiftly packed his so-called journalistic bags, fled and took refuge and safety in the Camp of the George Manneh Weah-led Government”.
He alleges that Costa’s talk show for nearly 10 months following Weah’s election was devoted to President Weah and his Government.
Cllr. Jayweh: “Pressured and apparently sensing that the Weah-led Government might published its dealings with him (Henry P. Costa), he swiftly fled the comfort of the Weah-led Government and on his own published by admission and confession that the Weah-led Government paid his US$5000 to sing songs of praises to and for the Weah-led Government”.
When contacted by www.newspublictrust.com on Thursday, January 2, 2020, Mr. Costa said: “I don’t respond to garbage from detractors. Thanks for the courtesy”.
In its statement, the CDC government said takes the allegation serious and that it is commissioning a probe to ascertain its veracity.
It said the government is fighting graft cannot at the same time be engaged in wasteful spending and giving of bribes.
Guilty of treason
Meanwhile, Cllr. Jayweh has restated that those using the streets to demand that the President steps down were in violation of the Liberian constitution.
“As we herein-before stated: Anyone that promotes and demands the Weah-led Government of Liberia to step-down prior to completing its constitutional term and fulfilling its legal mandate, is guilty of Treason. Penal Law-Vol IV-Title-26- Liberian Code of Law Revised, § 11.1 (d)-(e) Approved 1976 and Published 1978. Swiftly invoking and applying this provision of our Law, the GoL, has the legal right and responsibility to arrest, indict and swiftly prosecute the leaders and Executives of the CoP should they take to the streets of Liberia and demand that the GoL must stem-down and give way to a group of unelected Liberians. Liberia and its people must stay away from hustlers and fraudsters. Henry P. Costa and his CoP, must not be allowed to hold Liberia hostage,” Cllr. Jayweh writes in his statement to www.newspublictrust.com.