Sanniquellie, Nimba County – Associate Judge at the Supreme Court of Liberia, Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay, has announced plans to dismiss several magistrates who have been assigned to the 17 magisterial courts in Nimba County due to unprofessional behavior.
There are over thirty magistrates assigned to the 19 magisterial courts in the county, of which only 17 are recognized by the national government, while the remaining two are operating independently.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 13, 2024, at the opening of the court session at the Eighth Judiciary Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay announced that more magistrates are expected to be dismissed based on what he referred to as unethical acts that violate the laws of the country.
He cited some of the unethical behaviors of these local court judges as the exorbitant fees they charge litigants. “We are not present in the various local courts in the County, but we have received reports about your activities. You are engaging in unethical practices, extorting large sums of money from people seeking justice, among other things. Expect dismissals due to your misconduct,” Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay added.
According to Associate Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay of the Supreme Court, such behaviors have the potential to erode public trust in the judiciary.
Our Nimba County correspondent reported that the various Magisterial Courts in the County demand exorbitant fees from victims of rape, murder, and other crimes who are seeking justice. This situation has reportedly led to an increase in mob violence in the County.
In Ganta, Bahn, and Saclepea, victims are charged three to four thousand Liberian dollars by the courts to transport suspects from their location to Sanniquellie via motorbikes. In Tappita, Gbei-Dru, Buu-YAO, and Kparblee, victims seeking justice are charged 40 to 50 thousand Liberian dollars for transportation.
Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay also used the occasion to call on the National Legislature and the government to consider establishing additional courts, including labor and other circuit courts, in the County. He stated that this would help reduce the backlog of cases in the County.
He revealed that despite Nimba County being referred to as the second-largest County, it has only one court. He argued that additional facilities are necessary for the County.
Meanwhile, several jurors from the Eighth Judiciary Circuit Court in Sanniquellie are currently on the run.
Reports suggest that one of them has been arrested and is currently in the Sanniquellie Central Prison awaiting trial, while the rest have reportedly crossed over to Guinea and Ivory Coast for fear of arrest. This came after GSM network communications revealed that the jurors were in constant communication with Pastor Fred Suah, who is involved in a land case with the Ganta United Methodist Families.
The Methodist families claim that Pastor Fred Suah has sold off their vast lands, and the Circuit Court Judge, Pape Suah, has ordered his arrest.
The jurors reportedly received bribes from Pastor Fred Suah regarding the ongoing land dispute case between the Ganta United Methodist families and Pastor Fred Suah, who is currently on the run, according to court documents.
During the opening of the May term of Court on Tuesday in Sanniquellie, Judge Pape Suah called on lawyers to show respect to each other while presenting their cases in court.
He disclosed that representatives of parties are now presenting fake documents in court.
The Eighth Judiciary Circuit Court Judge, Pape Suah, warned court workers not to engage in activities that could bring the court into disrepute, as he called for a good working relationship among court workers.
