Monrovia – In an unprecedented development, FrontPageAfrica has reliably learned of a purported plan to raid and search the home of former President George Weah for incriminating evidence in the case involving Gracious Ride and the government of Liberia.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Gracious Ride is owned by Nora Finda Bundoo, former Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol during the Weah-Taylor administration. In March, the Asset Recovery team established by President Joseph Boakai through Executive Order #126, impounded the vehicles owned by Gracious Ride on suspicion that the properties were illegally acquired. Gracious Ride sued the Taskforce, on grounds it does not have the constitutional authority to seize the vehicles.
Justices split
Reliable sources close to the Executive Mansion have informed FrontPageAfrica the Ministry of Justice, acting on the advice of President Joseph Boakai’s legal team, led by Bushuben Keita, requested a search and seizure warrant for the home of former President George Weah. The request, FPA gathered, was made in an effort to obtain incriminating evidence related to the ongoing Gracious Ride Case. However, the Full Bench of the Supreme Court is yet to decide as justices are split on the matter.
The Minister of Justice did not respond to FPA queries.
Ex-president Weah is not a party litigant to the case. Legal pundits are questioning why government’s lawyers would request to search his home. That action, they said, if executed, would violate the right to privacy as guaranteed by the Constitution of Liberia and other statues.
FPA gathered President Boakai has been cautioned against the move which could pose complications for the ruling party in the 2029 Presidential elections.
The ruling UP barely won the elections by a narrow margin and recent controversial decisions are resurrecting concerns that the party lacks the ability to unite the already fragile political environment and appears to be toeing similar lines of the former ruling party.
Questioning Asset Recovery Legality
This latest development comes as the Supreme Court has yet to deliver its verdict in the case of Gracious Ride vs. Government of Liberia. Represented by Cllrs. Michael Wilkins Wright and Abraham Zayzay, Gracious Ride has challenged the legality of President Joseph Boakai’s Executive Order #126, under which their commercial vehicles were seized by the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force in March of this year.
The Supreme Court of Liberia heard arguments in the case on Thursday, July 4, and subsequently reserved its decision. During the proceedings, Gracious Ride argued the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force’s actions, including the seizure of their vehicles, were conducted without legal authority. The petitioner questioned whether President Boakai had the authority to delegate a legislatively defined role to the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force and whether issuing Executive Order #126 violated the Constitution of Liberia.
Arguing before the full bench of the Supreme Court, Cllr. Wright asserted President Boakai had overstepped his authority, violating Article 3 of the Liberian Constitution, which defines the separation of powers. He further cited Articles 89 and 5(C) of the Constitution, arguing that while the President has the authority to issue executive orders, the establishment and conduct of the Asset Recovery and Retrieval Task Force were unconstitutional.
“There are parallel institutions like the LACC (Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission) and the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit), which are legally established entities responsible for similar tasks as the Asset Recovery and Retrieval Task Force,” Cllr. Wright noted.
He also referenced Article 34(I) of the Constitution, stating the creation of Executive Order #126 violated their rights by allowing the seizure of their vehicles without a court order. Cllr. Wright argued that it is the duty of the Legislature to enact laws, and if President Boakai wanted the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force to be legitimate, the proper course would have been to pass it through the Legislature or amend the LACC Act.
“An Executive Order cannot override an existing law,” Cllr. Wright concluded, urging the Court to declare the Executive Order unconstitutional on the grounds that only the Legislature has the authority to create laws in Liberia.
In response, the Executive Branch, represented by Edwin Kla Martin, argued Gracious Ride lacked the standing or capacity to sue. Cllr. Martin maintained that the President, through his Executive Order, did not violate the petitioner’s rights, asserting that the power to issue executive orders is vested solely in the President. He cited Article 50 of the 1986 Constitution, which states that the Executive Power of the Republic shall be vested in the President, who is also the Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
According to Cllr. Martin, the President acted within his constitutional authority, and there was no infringement on the rights of Gracious Ride.
