Monrovia – The impeachment trial of Justice Kabineh Ja’neh continues to be greeted by staunch criticisms from several quarters of the Liberian populace.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh 00231880881540 / 00231777769531 / [email protected]
The latest to weigh in on the issue is the Chief Imam of Liberia, Ali Krayee. Addressing a press conference on Monday, February 25, Imam Krayee said the impeachment trail of Associate Justice Ja’neh is a test for the Senate to prove that it is a backbone of the nation’s governance structure or the opposite.
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.
The top Muslim Cleric’s comments followed statements issued by two Islamic organizations, the Coalition of Islamic Organizations and the National Muslim Council of Liberia.
The Coalition of Islamic Organizations condemning the impeachment trial, yielded to the call of the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFFL) and threatened to stage a protest duped ‘Operation Save the Judiciary’ on the grounds of the Capitol Hill on February 28, 2019.
The National Muslim Council of Liberia, on the other hand called on the Senate to halt the entire proceedings and among other things to allow the Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia to intervene in the interest of peace and development.
When asked whether these statements of solidarity for Justice Ja’neh were because they share the same religion, Imam Krayee said his comments is not based on religious solidarity, but his on his convictions as a religious leader.
He contended that as a religious leader, he has always spoken on critical issues just as he spoke against the impeachment of former Speaker Alex Tyler in 2016 when he described the House of Representative as a House of comedians.
He further termed as hypocritical the refusal of the government to set up war and economic crimes court; citing national healing and reconciliation as primary reasons. Yet, “the same people are engaged in a process of impeachment of a supreme court judge.” He also insinuated that the government may not hold by-election in Montserrado within the constitutional time limits to fill the vacant Senate seat left as the result of the death of Senator Geraldine Doe-Sherriff due to financial constraints, but were “wasting much needed resources and time to prosecute one man whose only crime could be that, in critical times, he refuses to fall in line.”