PHOTO: Cllr. Barbu presenting his letter of interest at the LNBA headquarters
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia- After consulting with his colleagues both locally and internationally, prominent Liberian constitutional lawyer, Dr. Cllr. Jallah Barbu has expressed his interest in contesting the Liberian National Bar Association presidency next month, November.
Cllr. Barbu formally made his intention known on Monday, October 25, 2021, when he present his documents fulfilling the requirements for candidates for this position.
This makes him the first aspirant to register and present his requirements for the post of LNBA president in readiness of his quest to contest the seat.
In a chat with Judicial Reporters at the Bar’s office on Ashmun Street in Monrovia, the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School Professor said he possesses the quality and capacity to assume the Bar leadership comes November this year.
Cllr. Barbu with others at the LNBA office
When asked what new he will be bringing to the table if elected the Bar Association’s President, Cllr. Barbu said that there are a lot of good things he will do to elevate the LNBA.
He promised to raise the current level of the institution and bring more taste to the Bar through his contribution to sustaining the umbrella group for Liberian Lawyers.
Cllr. Barbu also said that even though the current administration of Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe has made some errors during their tenure, absolutely no one is free from errors as long as we live; adding that his administration will correct those errors.
According to him, he will build on achievements made under Gongloe’s presidency in filling the gap left behind.
The Liberian constitutional lawyer pointed out that he has good relationship with colleagues and the Supreme Court Bench.
Speaking further, Cllr. Barbu said noted that he once served as the Lofa County Bar President and under his leadership, the Lofa Bar was visible, renting of office space and represented many litigants.
‘If I win the Presidency of the Liberian National Bar Association, my leadership will of inclusion and has vowed to approach things differently by not sugar coating his words on things, objective in what he do or say,” he narrated.
According to him, if he wins the Bar’s presidency in November, his first one hundred days will be to conduct in-house assessment to esured the level of work and to improve the Bar and Supreme Court Bench relationship.
His Vision
Dr. Barbu said that his vision is to bring every lawyer on board in such a way that he or she will feel like a Lawyer and LNBA member.
He said his is on a mission to lead the Bar and become the voice of the Liberian people.
Currently, Cllr. Barbu serves chairman of the LNBA committee on drafting documents on the constitution of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
It is reported that he is expected to be up against Cllr. Abrahim Sillah, current Vice of the Bar, Swaliho A. Sasay, among others who are said to have interest in the presidency.
But up to present, only Cllr. Barbu and another lawyer have formally expressed their interest in contesting both the Presidency and the Secretary General position at the LNBA.