MONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has gathered from impeccable sources that the judge of the Civil Law Court, Yousif Kaba, is tipped to join the Bench should Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh be impeached.
Executive Mansion source hinted FrontPageAfrica that a number of names of qualified and experienced judges have already been submitted to the Office of the President, but Judge Kaba appears to be a priority on the list.
FrontPageAfrica was informed that President George Weah would be making a swift appointment should the incumbent be impeached – a move that is highly anticipated within the circles of the presidency. The swift appointment, is intended to help the Supreme Court to speed up with the over 300 cases on its docket, the source said.
In his address during the opening of the March Term of Court on last Monday, Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpr noted there is a lot of work to do at the Supreme Court, especially with the high number of pending cases.
Lawyers representing Justice Ja’neh at the impeachment hearing believe the trial is politically motivated and reasons provided for the impeachment have no basis to subject him to such a trial.
The selection of Judge Kaba, according to Executive Mansion sources, is to appease the Mandingo ethnic group who believe that Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment trial is a witch-hunt against them. Members of the Muslim Council, the Mandingo Community, the National Bar Association and some political actors are being consulted over the decision.
Mounting Resistance
Members of the Muslim community across the country have been expressing their disgust over the trial through various protests.
On February 28, a group of Muslims in Gbarnga City, Bong County, under the banner Coalition of Islamic Organization – Bong Chapter gathered peacefully to demonstrate and condemn the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
The group said the impeachment proceedings against Justice Ja’neh is not only unconstitutional, but lacks all legal basis.
Gbarnga’s main street was filled with colorful placards carrying slogans: “Halt the impeachment trial of Ja’neh for peace and stability”, “the impeachment is not for Justice Ja’neh alone, let’s stand up against it.”
Protesters began the procession while chanting: “Ja’neh is our only high-profile person in government and impeaching him would be a big blow to us.”
The chairman of the group, Sheikh Sheriff, said proceedings leading to the impeachment of Ja’neh is not only unconstitutional, but lack the basis for conviction.
“The march of thousands of participants in Bong County and other parts of the country sends a message that Muslims stand with Ja’neh,” he added.
He described the impeachment proceeding as a “direct attack” on the nation and social stability of Liberia. “This is an attack on the Muslim community and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.
Sheriff said the charges against Ja’neh are unfounded and lack substance. “This is also an attempt to reduce the Judiciary,” he said.
At the same time, the Chief Imam of Liberia, Sheik Ali Krayee during a press conference said the impeachment of Justice Ja’neh is a test for the Senate to prove that it is a backbone of the nation’s governance structure.
Said Chief Imam Krayee: “This Senate that has so far been home of some of our nation’s respected and experienced citizens is today being put to the test. Today, they can prove to Liberia and the world that the 54th Legislature stands as the backbone of our governance structure.”
He continues: They can also confirm the view held by many that this is an absolutely useless entity which only serves as a burden on our small and struggling economy. But beyond that, the honorable men and women of this Senate are in the position to raise the image of Liberia on the world stage as an admirable and respectable nation or confirm the perception in many quarters that our dear country is the tragic comedy theater of West Africa.”
Chief Imam Krayee also asserted that the impeachment trial of Justice Ja’neh is a ‘dangerous miscalculation and an unfortunate misstep’ that could plunge Liberia into a long period of uncertainty and derail the peace and reconciliation process.
Why Is Ja’neh Being Impeached?
Ja’neh is facing trial for ‘illegally’ acquiring a property from the 40 years old son of Madam Annie Constant. He is also accused of criminally acquiring the minutes of the House of Representatives, and conniving with others to deny the Government money intended to fund road projects in Liberia but the Justice has denied all those allegations.
Montserrado County District #8 Rep. who is a key engineer of Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment, Moses Acarous Gray, testified that Annie carried a complaint to him, accusing Associate Justice Ja’neh of illegally taking her land.
According to Rep. Gray, he took the issue to plenary and a committee was set up to investigate the matter.
He testified that amendments and recommendations were made that brought about the impeachment against Justice Ja’neh. Rep. Gray narrated that Annie’s husband is a former General of the Liberian Army and also a former legislator.
Rep. Gray said Annie’s husband went missing for some years and in 1996 Associate Justice Ja’neh allegedly took their property illegally at the time when Liberians were running helter-skelter from war.
The Montserrado County District 8 Representative further accused Justice Ja’neh of using his office to stop the Government from having access to the road funds that was saved at the rate of 50 cent from every petroleum brought into the country.
Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, president of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) is strongly opposed to the impeachment trial. Among several other reasons, Cllr. Gongloe argues that the listing of actions or conduct against the Supreme Court judge do not qualify as impeachable offenses. Cllr. Gongloe: “Two of the actions listed have direct links to this Court. In one case Mr. Justice Ja’neh was a party in a case decided by the Supreme Court. In the other, he was performing a judicial duty in which his decision was subject to review by the entire Bench. Yet, Justice Ja’neh is being subjected to a hearing for matters that both the bench and a justice in chambers are protected by the Constitution of Liberia for.”