Monrovia – Angry, redundant employees of Eco-Fuel early Tuesday, April 23, morning stormed the Temple of Justice demanding the Supreme Court to stop Srimex Oil and Gas Company from operating the Eco-Fuel Terminal.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh, [email protected] 00231775524647
The protesters held placards with inscriptions such as: “No development without justice!!” “Supreme Court, please don’t compromise the case between Eco-Fuel and Srimex;” “Supreme Court, please stop Srimex from using Eco-Fuel Terminal,” among others.
According to the group’s head, J. Bobby Clarke, Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Youh, who was the Justice-in-Chamber when the case went to the Court had issued a prohibition on the terminal. They alleged that contrary to her order, Srimex Oil and Gas Company is currently operating the terminal. Clarke added that the protest is intended to call the attention of the Supreme Court to re-issue a prohibition to stop Srimex from operating the facility.
“We are here for so many reasons; last year our (Eco-Fuel) case came to court and the court issued a prohibition. We respected the rules and the laws of Liberia. We left the premises, after the court told us that the Liberia National Police will take care of the terminal until otherwise ordered. To our surprise, Musa Bility, the owner of Srimex Oil and Gas Company, hijacked our terminal and is presently operating the terminal since December and the Supreme Court is aware,” Clarke said.
These protestors, who are now former employees of Eco-Fuel, were redundant few weeks ago. The company said it was forced to send these people home as it wasn’t making any business because of the prolonged court case and its employees were being fully paid their salaries when they are not doing any essential jobs for the company.
When the case (Srimex Oil and Gas Company vs. Eco- Fuel) was taken to the Supreme Court, Associate Justice Yuoh ordered, “You are hereby ordered to proceed to the property, subject of these proceedings and return to status quo ante, that is the petitioner is enjoined from operating the premises pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia,” Excerpts of the court’s order in the case.