Who Holds Actual Power Now In This Long-Running Controversy?
PHOTO: (L-R) Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh and LNBA President Sylvester Rennie
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The leadership of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) is currently rallying its membership to reject the Supreme Court decision reinstating former Liberia Ant-Corruption Commission Chairman A. Ndubusi Nwabudike to the practice of law in the country.
A senior source at the Bar informed this Reporter on Wednesday January 24,2024, that they have begun consultations with members of the Bar to adequately respond to the high court judgement.
The LNBA, an umbrella of all lawyers in the country, on June 19, 2020, unanimously voted to expel Cllr. Nwabudike from the practice of law for allegedly obtaining a fraudulent Liberian Citizenship in consistent with Article 2 Section IX of its Constitution.
“Cllr. A. N. Nwabudike is hereby expelled from the membership of the Liberian National Bar Association. His name is hereby stricken from the roster of the membership of the Liberian National Bar Association,” the Bar stated.
Article II Section IX of the Constitution of the Liberian National Bar Association, provides, “Any member may, after inquiry, be disciplined by means of suspension or expulsion from membership of the Association for proven gross misconduct in his relations to the Association or in his professional undertaking upon two thirds votes of the Membership of the National Executive Council.”
However, the Supreme Court in its reversal decision said “that the suspension imposed on Petitioner A. Ndubuisi Nwabudike is hereby lifted and his status as a Counselor-at-Law and as a legal Practioner in all courts of the Republic of Liberia is restored. Further, his right to obtain a license to practice as a lawyer is hereby reinstated, to enable him pursue his professional career with all rights and privileges appertaining thereto. The clerk of this court is mandated to inform the petitioner, by and thru his lawyer, of this judgment. The clerk of this court is further mandated to inform the Association of Trial Judges of Liberia and the Liberian National Bar Association of this judgment. And it is hereby so ordered.”
The priests’ lifted the punishment and restored his status as a Counsellor-at-Law and as a legal practitioner in all courts of the Republic of Liberia.
On February 15, 2023, the former LACC Boss obtained a Liberian citizenship after giving several accounts about his date of birth and obtaining of Liberian citizenship before the Liberian Senate.
Announcing him as citizen on February 9, 2023 at the Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, Resident Judge Karboi K. Nuta said after Cllr. Nwabudike met all the requirements and proper procedures of the court, he was announced as a full-fledged Liberian citizen with all rights and privileges appertaining.
Judge Nuta said after Cllr. Nwabudike took the Oath of Allegiance of the Republic of Liberia, thus relinquishing all allegiance of Nigeria from where his father came from; the former LACC boss under oath to bear arms for Liberia when required by law to uphold the laws and Constitution of Liberia.
It can be recalled that Cllr. Nwabudike some time ago filed a petition before the Supreme Court which resulted into the Court inquiring from the Minister of Justice Frank Musa Dean, requesting opinion relative to his (Cllr. Nwabudike’s) petition for the affirmation of his allegiance to the Republic of Liberia as a citizen.
Cllr. Nwabudike stated in the complaint that his father who died in A.D. 2008 was a naturalized Liberian citizen and he had been born by his father and mother after the naturalization of his father, requested the High Court to be permitted to be administered the oath of allegiance as a citizen of Liberia.
After thorough investigation by the Minister of Justice; the Minister submitted his opinion in which he stated in his conclusion inter Alia that he has determined “A. Ndubusi 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.”
Considering his opinion, the Supreme Court mandated the court to administer the oath of allegiance to Nwabudike, since in fact the Ministry of Justice through the Attorney General had indicated that he had done that which is required by law to permit him to be administered the oath of allegiance in keeping with law.