MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) Legal Counsel, Teage Jalloh, has rebutted allegations that he is under investigation by committees of the Liberian Senate over his academic qualifications. This was after Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence wrote to the Senate, claiming that Jalloh was unqualified and unfit to serve as the legal officer of the commission.
By Obediah Johnson
In her communication, Senator Lawrence stated that the law requires the legal officer to be a qualified lawyer and counselor-at-law and to have practiced for at least five years prior to appointment. She cited Jalloh’s admission to the Supreme Court Bar being denied on two occasions, once due to his alleged denial of citizenship and the other for his inability to show his academic qualifications.
She stated: “
“Accordingly, he (Jalloh) has not been admitted to the Supreme Court Bar as counselor-at-law,” said the Senator Karnga-Lawrence, who also chairs the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration. “On the strength of the same law denying him admission, Mr. Jalloh is absolutely unqualified to practice in Liberia until his citizenship issue is resolved. As things stand, he is merely a law school graduate and not a lawyer.
“I am herewith soliciting the intervention of this August body in ensuring that Mr Jalloh is immediately removed from the position of legal Officer of NEC in adherence to the laws we made.”
In response, Jalloh issued a statement on February 9, clarifying that he is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan and has been admitted as an attorney and counselor-at-law in three US jurisdictions: New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania. He added that he passed the Liberian bar exam in 2015 with the highest score and has been a member in good standing with the Liberian National Bar Association since his admission.
“My attention has been drawn to certain allegations against me, reportedly submitted to the Honorable Liberian Senate. For the record, I have not been notified or served with any such allegations, to which I can specifically respond. Hence, my purpose here is to provide undeniable facts to your readers. I graduated from the ABA-approved Thomas M. Cooley Law School, located in Michigan, U.S.A. on September 18, 2004. Subsequent to my graduation, I sat for and passed two separate bar exams in the United States and, as a result, was admitted as an attorney and counselor at law in the following jurisdictions in the United States: State of New Jersey Bar, admitted in 2005. Lawyer ID #: 003382005; District of Columbia Bar, admitted in 2006. Lawyer ID#: 499945, and State of Pennsylvania Bar, admitted in 2007. Lawyer ID#: 204794.”
Jalloh also addressed the issue of citizenship, stating that he is a Liberian citizen, citing a landmark Supreme Court ruling that abrogated the provision in the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Act on automatic loss of citizenship. He claimed that he was asked by Liberians in the diaspora to be the named petitioner in the case, which shielded the citizenship rights of thousands of Liberians.
In conclusion, Jalloh emphasized that he is a qualified attorney and counselor-at-law, admitted to practice in several US federal courts and the Liberian bar, and a proud Liberian citizen.