Monrovia – The driver and conductor of the truck said to be responsible for the accidental death of Rep. Adolph Lawrence in the early hours of Monday morning in the Tower Hill Community off the Robertsfield Highway, are said to be on the run as police intensify their investigation into what actually happened, FrontPageAfrica has learned.
Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Police Director Patrick Sudue confirmed to FrontPageAfrica Monday that police are delving into the matter, speaking to witnesses and trying to get to the bottom of the accident.
The Inspector General of the police also confirmed to FPA the identities of those involved in the accident. Besides Rep. Lawrence, FPA can now confirm the death of Gwendolyn Wilson, a recent graduate of the University of Liberia who was in the front passenger seat of vehicle. Three others – Prince B. Gbadoe, Carlor T. Edison and Aaron Cassell are currently in critical condition undergoing treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, IG Sudue confirmed.
The late Mr. Lawrence was on his way from the celebration of his 50th birthday at the home of his wife, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Liberty Party, Grand Bassa County) in Buchanan.
Eyewitnesses confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that Mr. Lawrence’s jeep reportedly ran under a truck carrying timber, killing the lawmaker and another person in the passenger seat of his vehicle.
Police Director Sudue confirmed to FPA that rescuers and bystanders including officers had to struggle to remove the lawmaker’s body from the car. “The body is stuck in the car and it is nearly impossible to take him out of the car. As I speak to you, there is no way to get the body out of the car,” the inspector general told FPA.
Representative Adolph Lawrence, (CDC, District # 15 Montserrado County, a former Chair of the House Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment is also the husband of Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Grand Bassa).
Mr. Lawrence, a geologist has been a member of the lower house since 2012. Besides the Land, Natural Resources, Energy and Environment committee, Rep. Lawrence also served on the Investment and Concessions and Youth and Sports and the Contracts and Monopolies committees.
Ms. Wilson, the second victim, was the Executive Director of the Girls Education & Empowerment Initiative, an organization dedicated to uplifting women’s lives in Liberia.
The late lawmaker was expected to oversee a House investigative hearing into the mysterious death of Matthew Innis, a former researcher at the Central Bank of Liberia who was victim of a hit-and-run accident recently.
The late Rep. Lawrence last week sought Plenary approval for Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean and Police Inspector Sudue to appear before the august body on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 to give a comprehensive report on circumstances surrounding the death of Innis.
In his communication, Rep. Lawrence stated that following the CBL staff’s untimely death, which Police have linked to a hit-and- run accident, family members and the public have contested reports that he died under such circumstances; “especially the incident happened just after the release of two damaging reports surrounding printing and importation of excess Liberia banknotes and the controversial US$25 million mop-up exercise.”
The mop up exercises, according to Rep. Lawrence was implemented by the Technical Economic Management Team (TEMT) and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), “which it is believed that Mr. Innis must have had some basic information relative to the printing an importation of money and the unconventional mopping.”
However, after the reading of Rep. Lawrence’s communication by Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon, Rep. Jeremiah Koung (Nimba County District #1) filed in a motion calling for the report to cover the deaths of Greaves and Allison.
“These are grave issues in our country and most times always go unnoticed. We all remember the death of Harry Greaves and we have been awaiting that report, but up till now, nothing. Cllr. Michael Allison was due to appeared before the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission LACC two days before he died. I will move if I can obtain a second that the Police Inspector General and the Minister of Justice be made to appear before this Plenary to give us full report on the death of Harry Greaves, Cllr. Michael Allison and Matthew J. Innis.” he proffered.
In recent weeks, the law, Mr. Lawrence and a number of lawmakers have been in a major row with House Speaker Bhofal Chambers whom they accused of ‘unruly’ behavior.
In one of the major drama on the floor of the lower house, Rep. Lawrence was heard calling plenary’s adopted agenda a “trash”, prompting Speaker Chambers to order the Sergeant-at-arms, Brigadier General Martin Johnson to escort the Montserrado County’s lawmaker out of session for what he (Speaker Chambers) termed as his disturbance and unruly behavior.
The drama began following the reading of the agenda by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mildred Sayon, and a motion for adoption was filed by Rep. Samuel Kogar (Nimba District #5).
Several lawmakers including Reps. Lawrence and Yekeh Kolubah (Montserrado District #10) raised their hands to amend the motion (either to add, modify or subtract) for subsequent adoption by plenary.
Rep. Lawrence wrote several communications to House Speaker including a plead for the City Major of Monrovia, Jefferson Koijee to be invited and explained why Monrovia was overwhelmed by dirt and fifths. His communication, however, did not appear on the floor.