PHOTO: Cummings (wearing nose mask) being swarmed by his supporters as he arrived at the court on Tuesday
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia –.The seat of the Judiciary was a place of attraction today, Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
A large number of supporters of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) leader, Alexander B. Cummings gathered to await their political leader’s arrival to face charge of altering the Framework Document of the four-party grouping, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).
After an insurance and surety bond was filed by the ANC leader’s Lawyers, Liberia’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Saymah Syrenius Cephas orders state prosecutors not to challenge the US$2,500.00 bond that spared him from detention.
Upon Mr. Cummings’ arrival at the court, some supporters of the ANC decided to force their way into the Monrovia City court but they were prevented and some started fighting court officers including the police officers who have to serve as backup.
ANC supporters were seen dancing and chanting slogan Urey that rouge, Urey that rogue.
To their pleasure, the Ministry of Justice by and thru its Solicitor General, Cephas boastfully ordered his colleagues prosecutors at the Monrovia City court not to challenge the bond filed by Cummings.
Mr. Cummings appeared at the Monrovia City Court at 1pm to answer to his charges levied against by opposition leader of the All Liberian Party’s leader, Benoni Urey on whose behalf the court issued a writ of arrest on Mr. Cummings early morning on January 3, 2021 for alleged tempering with their CPP Framework documents.
The writ of arrest was issued by the Ministry of Justice by and thru Mr. Urey of the All Liberian Party.
It can be recalled that on December 24, 2021, Cllr. Cephas was a seen with Mr. Bility at the Criminal Court C escorting the National Elections Commission boss Davidetta Brown Lansannah to file her bond.
Liberty Party Chairman, Musa Bility and Cummings’ supporters
Also arriving at the court on Tuesday was Liberty Party’s Chairman, Musa Bility who said that he wants the Ministry of Justice to step aside from their case something that is impossible because it is a criminal matter.
According to Mr. Bility, CPP is a combination of four political institutions who produced the framework document and how can one person be held liable but he awaits to see the reaction of the law to that.
Mr. Bility said his present at court was to see Mr. Cummings get justice, because he trust the legal system adding that political parties are not run by their political leader but rather its secretary or chairman.
The embattled LP Chairman said that framework in question was signed
on the same day in the presence of the four political parties leaders. “So how can Mr. Cummings be the culprit?” Bility asked.
As for Mr. Cummings, he said the law suit filed against him by Mr. Urey is baseless and he trust that legal system will prevailed.
Cummings, who is former Coca Cola Africa CEO, added that Mr. Urey plan against him has failed and he is not deterred by the law suit filed against but he will continue to fight for the Liberian people until the right thing is done.
He therefore lauded his supporters for the overwhelming support given to him by their presence at the court.
Monday’s writ ordering the Magistrate Police said: “You are hereby commanded to arrest the living body of Alexander B. Cummings and others to be identified defendants, and forthwith bring them before the Monrovia City Magisterial Court Temple of Justice to answer to the crime of Forgery and Criminal Conspiracy, based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru All Liberian Party by and thru its National Chairman, Theodore Momoh, plaintiff in which it is substantially alleged…”
Background
The long-running feud in the fractured opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) over allegation of tampering with the framework document of the group has gone one step further with this latest court action.
This latest legal action is coming at a time when the former ruling Unity Party (UP) Standard Bearer, former Vice President Joseph Boakai is currently heading the CPP, which is on the verge of collapsing.
Last Week, the National Executive Committee of Urey’s ALP decided that the party withdraw from the CPP. Top executive of Baoak’s Unity Party had also earlier decided that similar action be taken by the former ruling party.
The rift in the CPP has grown out of Urey and the leader of the other constituent party in the CPP, Liberty Party political leader, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence’s support for Boakai to head the CPP’s ticket in the upcoming 2023 presidential election. At the same time, this has led to splits in both the LP and UP, with a factions of the two parties supporting the Standard Bearership of Cummings to take on incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the ruling CDC party.