Monrovia – Justice in Chambers, Her Honor Jamesetta Wolokollie, has not only placed a stay order on President George Weah’s appointment to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), she has also ordered that everything return to status quo in relation to the position.
Justice Wolokollie’s order was prompted by a Writ for Prohibition prayed for by Atty. Isaac Jackson who currently serves as Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the IMO.
Atty. Jackson was appointed to the position by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2016. He argues that the statute that established the Liberia Maritime Authority under which he serves, gives him a five-year tenure. Accordingly, he termed Pres. Weah’s decision to replace him at the IMO was erroneous.
Justice Wolokollie has also requested that the government through the Justice Minister/Attorney General, Frank Musa Dean, to appear before her in chambers to show cause why the writ of prohibition should not be granted.
In a 17-count petition, lawyers representing Atty. Jackson argued that Part II, Section 7 (4) of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) Act says the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Maritime Authority shall have tenures of five years in in order to ensure and preserve consistency in the leadership, maintain continuity of purpose, increase capacity in the industry and preserve the national and international relevance and very competitive nature of the maritime program.
He informed the Court that he was appointed by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf under the LMA Act as Permanent Representative to the IMO, which in the organogram of the LMA is Deputy Commissioner. Said appointment was made on September 13, 2016 and he was commissioned on October 28, 2016.
He noted that the position of a Permanent Representative is legally and historically a Deputy Commissioner, which is tenured for five years under the Liberia Maritime Act of 2010, evident by the stay of previous Liberians who served in the capacity.
“We pray the Court on the strength of our evidence. It is sad that we are hearing rumor about document being allegedly manufactured to mislead the Court.”