Monrovia – Justices of the Supreme Court have requested lawyers representing suspended former ECOWAS Justice, Cllr. Wilkins Wright, to produce evidence showing that he wasn’t practicing while under suspension.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
The request by the court follows a petition to lift the suspension of Cllr. Wright, which the court said evidence will disprove its claims.
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Wright said he has complied with terms and obeyed the mandate of the court by serving the suspension for the complete period ordered, which expired February 17, 2018.
“Petitioner now comes respectfully praying your honors to kindly restore petitioner to eligibility to practice law and thereby reinstate the petitioner license as a full fledge practicing lawyer within Liberia with all rights, entitlement and privileges,” the petition states.
Wright was suspended in 2017 by the Supreme Court of Liberia for allegedly committing conflict of interest in 2009 while serving as Liberia’s Solicitor General. Upon his suspension in Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote ECOWAS to recall and replace him.
On March 30, 2017, Wright filed an action of violation of human rights in the community court of justice of ECOWAS against Liberia.
But he said the action of violation against the Government of Liberia was withdrawn January 29, 2018.
“I write herewith to forward to you, the court ECW/CCJ/ORD/01/18 dated January 31, 2018 in respect of the notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiff-in the above mentioned suit.”
His petition said he had observed and complied with terms and condition laid down in the high court judgment by refraining and engaging in the practice of law directly or indirectly.
But the Supreme Court of Liberia questioned him during arguments last week.
Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh was concern about the withdrawal of a lawsuit filed against the Republic of Liberia by the former ECOWAS Judge in Nigeria when Wrights was serving suspension.
Taiwon Gongolo, one of the counsels who represented Wilkins during the argument at the Supreme Court, argued that since the mandate of the Supreme Court was sent to the ECOWAS Court, his client (Wright) ceased to practice law.
However, Cllr. Gongloe argument may not have pleased the court, predicated upon Justice Ja’ne’s comment.
“If it is true that Wright filed that application it means his action was a defiance of the Supreme Court mandate which barred him from practicing law,” he said.
“By this, it does not seem to me conclusively that Wright cease to practice law as was mandated by this court”.
Another Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Youh was also concern to see the application and the signature of the lawsuit that was filed against the Republic of Liberia at the ECOWAS Court.
The Supreme Court is requesting that the purported legal suit that was filed at the ECOWAS Court in Nigeria should be brought before them (Supreme Court) to ascertain whether or not the former ECOWAS court judge was not in defiance of the Supreme Court’s mandate.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Gongloe has requested the court for continuance to produce the record to the effect that his client did not signed the law suit against the Republic of Liberia at the ECOWAS Court.