Monrovia – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has suspended its political leader, Dr. Joseph Mills Jones for time indefinite.
Report by Edwin Genoway, Jr – [email protected]
MOVEE NEC said it has taken the decision to suspend Dr. Jones based on official complaint of burglary at the party’s headquarters and a physical assault on one of its partisans, James Roberts on alleged orders of Dr. Mills Jones.
The party, in its communications, ordered Dr. Jones to stay off all MOVEE’s properties pending an investigation by the grievance and ethics committee of the party.
“First partisan Dr. Joseph Mills Jones is hereby suspended with immediate effect for time indefinite as standard bearer and political leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) pending conclusive investigation.”
“In so doing, partisan Joseph Mills Jones is hereby mandated to turn over all party properties in his possession and must avoid all primacies of the party until otherwise ordered by the National Executive Committee of MOVEE or cited by the Grievance and Ethics Committee of MOVEE for the investigation in the complaint brought against him – Partisan Joseph Mills Jones by Partisan James Roberts,” the statement mentioned.
The statement further reads: “As you may be aware, there are reports in the media about an alleged burglary that took place over the weekend at our party headquarters, resulting into tussles involving partisan James Roberts, Assistant National Secretary-General for Administration and senior partisan Joseph Mills Jones, Political Leader and Standard Bearer of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) over a 7.5KVA generator that powers our headquarters,” the statement reads.
The party says the alleged action of the Standard Bearer and Political Leader of MOVEE, Senior Partisan Joseph Mills Jones is highly regrettable, misdemeanor, and violates the culture of decency.
The National Vice Chairman for Communications and Media Relations of MOVEE, Robert Sammie, speaking to this newspaper, said considering the gravity of the matter, the Grievance and Ethics Committee been mandated to carryout speedy and an impartial investigation of the matter.
“Within 72 hours upon receipt of this mandate from the National Executive Committee of MOVEE, the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) must expeditiously dispose of this matter and submit its findings to the National Executive Committee of MOVEE, in keeping with the by-laws and constitution of the party,” Sammie explained.
He noted that the image and integrity of MOVEE has seriously been assaulted by actions and behaviors of Dr. Jones.
“These acts are considered unbecoming of any official, including senior partisans of MOVEE. Such acts are punishable under the by-laws and constitution of the party,” he stressed.
Sammie noted that in order to deal with the matter between Dr. Jones and Roberts in a timely manner and considering its magnitude and graveness consistent with the party’s strong commitment to the rule of law, good governance and democracy, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Movement for Economic Empowerment, which is the highest decision making body in the absence of the National Convention, convened on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, an emergency session to discuss this matter and the complaint of Partisan James Roberts.
At its emergency meeting, the National Executive Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) unanimously reached the decision to suspend Dr. Joseph Mills Jones indefinitely pending investigations.
“Obviously, these are hard times for our noble party, but there is no singular guarantee for institutional building and democratization than the adherence to the rule of law and justice,”
He concluded that MOVEE subscribes to the fundamental principles of justice that no one is above the law.
The standoff, involving Dr. Jones and his junior official, ensued at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town over the weekend. Roberts told FrontPageAfrica that the impasse between him and his senior partisan erupted when Dr. Jones had allegedly ordered his security guards to burst open the generator house and take possession of the 7.5KVA generator, which powers the headquarters building, at the St Joseph’s Catholic Hospital junction in Oldest Congo Town.
“He came in with his security guards to collect the generator but I refused to allow them enter the power house.”
“While Dr. Jones and I were talking, the other security guard used rock to burst the lock on the generator house and he brought out the generator and attempted putting it in Dr. Jones’ car.”
“I stood tall and prevented them from putting the generator in the car that’s how I got wounded on my leg by the other guard, while tussling over the generator.”
“I immediately called the Vice Chairman, Mr. Dan Sayeh, who instructed me to not allow anyone take anything from the party headquarters and I followed his instructions,” he explained.