Monrovia – Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Monday named members of the much-anticipated Ombudsman tasked with the responsibility of deciding the fate of those participating in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections.
According to an Executive Mansion release, those appointed are: Atty. Edward Dillon, as a member, Attorney Massa Jallabah, member and former Police Director now Attorney Christian C. Massaquoi as member.
Mr. Dillon, a 2016 graduate from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana and a paralegal certificate from Widener University Law School Legal Education Institute.
He is currently a special assistant to the Attorney General/Minister of Justice.
He was also a research assistant with the Liberia Law Project and previously worked as a research assistant in the office of the President Pro Tempore between 1998 and 1999. Mr. Dillon also previously worked in the law offices of Brumskine & Associates/Pierre, Tweh & Associates Law Firm.
Jallabah, a 2012 graduate from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, current works in the Legal Section as a Legal Adviser at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy.
She previously worked as a consultant at Justice and also for ArcelorMittal. She previously worked as an Education Specialist at Mercer College in New Jersey.
Attorney Chris Massaquoi most recently worked as Director of Police and graduated from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law in 2016. He has a certificate in police science, M.Sc in Criminal Justice Administration and is a former Fullbright fellow.
He previously worked as head of the Bureau of Immigration and the investigation unit of the United Nations in Bosnia & Herzogovina.
The President has also replaced former Minister of Transport, Angela Cassell-Bush with Clarence Moniba as Minister of State without Portfolio.
Cassell-Bush now becomes Deputy Secretary General for Administrative Affairs at the Roberts Flight Information Region.
Mr. Darlington Tuagben, was appointed Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority replacing Mr. Harrison Karnwea, who recently stepped down to join the opposition Liberty Party.
All appointments are subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate where applicable.
The appointment of the Ombudsman comes amid concerns regarding the fate of several current and former officials of government who are expected to be affected by the ruling of the Supreme Court.
In March, the high court ruled that the Code of Conduct, signed into law by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2014, is legal and binding on the republic for all its intents and purposes.
The Act, which was submitted by the Executive to the National Legislature in 2009, states that all officials appointed by the President shall not engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices, use government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities, among others.
The Act also stipulates that: “Wherein, any official of government who desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two years prior to the date of such public elections; b) Any other official appointed by the President who holds a tenured position and desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post three years prior to the date of such public elections.
Ruling on a petition for Declaratory Judgment filed by legal counsel of Bong County Superintendent Selena Polson-Mappy, the high court declined to confirm her plea that the code of conduct is unconstitutional, unmeritorious both in fact and in law.
Accordingly, section 5.2 also states, “Wherein, any person in the category stated in section 5.1 herein above, desires to canvass or contest for an elective public position, the following shall apply; a) Any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant to article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors, who desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two (2) years prior to the date of such public elections; b) Any other official appointed by the President who holds a tenured position and desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post three (3) years prior to the date of such public elections.”
In a three-count judgment read by Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh the court rule that the appellate/petitioner, praying court to declare the Code of Conduct Act unconstitutional for reasons that section 5.2 of the act is discriminatory, arbitrary and capricious and tantamount to amending the eligibility provisions of the Liberian Constitution for public official to qualify as candidates for public offices is not acceptable in law.
Associate Justices Philip A.Z. Banks and Jamesetta H. Wolokolie took exception to the judgment of the majority in which they said the petition for declaratory judgment should have been granted by the court.
With so much pressure regarding objective and fairplay, eyebrows will no doubt be raised over the selection of a team of Ombudsman under the purview of the current presidency.
The ruling UP government risks massive disenchantment if those appointed by the president appear to toe the line of the administration and opening up the gates for everyone to be allowed to contest.
The President, according to sources have been under immense pressure from current UP officials in her government to find a way for them to contest, a risk political observers say could further complicate the upcoming presidential and legislative race.
But even if the Ombudsman crew follows the high court ruling, there is a possibility that many of those likely to be affected will take their filings to the Supreme Court.
The opposition Liberty Party, whose standard bearer Charles Walker Brumskine recently tipped FDA former MD Harrison Karnwea as his running mate is also said to be rethinking the move with one aide suggesting to FrontPageAfrica that Cllr. Brumskine is being urged to explore other options.
One name that is popping up is Edith Gongloe Weh. The sister of former Solicitor General Tiawon Gongloe is enjoys immense popularity in vote-rich Nimba and performed well against Senator Prince Johnson in the 2011 senatorial race.
Also in the air, is the fate of former Central Bank of Liberia Governor J. Mills Jones who has criticized the Code of Conduct ruling and has threatened to continue with his quest for the presidency.
For the immediate future, the stakes could be high for the ruling UP government as many await the Ombudsman’s decision on those flooding the gates to contest the 2017 races.