Monrovia – Former presidential candidate and political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Benedict Cummings, has strongly criticized the Unity Party-led government over what he described as the “shameful incarceration” of former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three lawmakers of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
Speaking to journalists in a brief interview on Saturday in Barnersville, Cummings condemned the arrest and detention of the lawmakers, labeling the police’s actions as a deliberate attempt to embarrass them.
“I am very disappointed in the Unity Party-led government for this behavior,” Cummings said. “These are legislators. They have immunity, and to try to embarrass them by putting them in jail is unacceptable.”
Cummings argued that the detained lawmakers are entitled to a level of immunity as sitting members of the Legislature and, given that they are not flight risks, should have been released pending court proceedings.
“These people are not going to go anywhere. They are not going to run away. They should have been released and allowed to appear in court when called,” he said. “This is very disappointing, embarrassing, and unacceptable. It is really a shame on the government for treating lawmakers this way.”
The arrest of Koffa and the three CDC lawmakers has sparked widespread debate, with opposition figures and civil society actors raising concerns over the government’s handling of the matter.
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