PHOTO: (L-R) Cllr. Syrenius Cephas and Alex Cummings
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- In a heated argument between state lawyers headed by Liberia’s Solicitor General Saymah Syrenius Cephas wants for the ANC political leader, Alexander B. Cummings to be declared hostile witness, as Garmah Never Lomo (garmahlomo@gmail.com) reports.
The SG’s call comes after Mr. Cummings told court that the original framework document does not exist.
Cllr. Cephas’ request came at the result of conflicting statements given by the ANC political leader both at the magisterial and Circuit Courts respectively.
At the magisterial court, Mr. Cummings said, he can’t incriminate himself and at the Circuit Court, he said the framework document doesn’t exist.
The Liberian Solicitor General added that they subpoena the framework document from Mr. Cummings and therefore, he is a witness for prosecution despite he is a defendant.
Mr. Cummings took the witness today February 21, 2022, after he was subpoena to produce the original CPP framework document which he was on the witness stand to verify the CPP original framework document.
Arguing his side of the case, defense lawyers headed by Cllr. Abraham Sillah cited Chapter 25, subsection 25.19 and subsection 3 of the Criminal procedure law.
Cllr. Sillah said Mr. Cummings can’t be prosecution witness, because it was subpoena Dues Tecum that was issued on him, but if it was Subpoena Ad testificandum then Mr. Cummings could be allowed to testify.
Meanwhile, magistrate Jomah Jallah reserved ruling, following prosecution request to declare Mr. Cummings a hostile witness pending notice of assignment.
On February 16, 2022, ANC Political Leader through his legal counsel headed by Cllr. Abraham Sillah finally submitted the collaborating Political Parties framework document to the magistrate of the Monrovia City court Jomah Jallah, after he was given 72 hours to produce said document by Criminal Court A.
Mr. Cummings through his lawyer said, what was given to the National Elections Commission was what he brought to court.
The case is expected to resume pending notice of assignment.
It can be recalled on February 10, 2022, Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice presided over b its resident Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie affirmed and confirmed Magistrate Jomah Jallah January 26,2022, in Subpoena Dues Tecum motion filed by state lawyers compelling the ANC political leader to bring the original copy of the CPP framework document but defendants took exception and took the magistrate on a summary proceedings at Criminal Court A.
The ruling compelled the ANC political leader and Senator Daniel Nathan and Aloysius Toe to produce the original copy of the CPP framework document within 72hrs. But Mr. Cummings said the order from the compelling him to produce the original copy of the CPP framework was self-incriminating, which violates his rights in line with Article 21(h).