Monrovia – Senators Stephen Zargo of Lofa County and Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa have jointly written their colleagues in the Senate requesting the appearance of Solicitor General Saymah Syrennius Cephas to appear before them to answer questions relating to Ms. Ellen Yabba Kweme Corkrum’s indictment.
In the two senators’ joint communication, they drew the Senate’s attention to what they consider a “gray lining” in the circumstances surrounding the purported dropping of criminal charges against former Liberia Airport Authority Managing Director, Ellen Corkrum.
“As we are all aware, it was already clearly stated by the Minister of Justice that he was not aware of charges being dropped against the indictee, while the Solicitor General holds an opposing position.
“We request that the Solicitor-General be cited before the Senate for the purpose of clarifying the statements and position being attributed to him; such clarification is necessary considering the national security implication from which the matter arose.”
“As we are all aware, it was already clearly stated by the Minister of Justice that he was not aware of charges being dropped against the indictee, while the Solicitor General holds an opposing position”
– Senator Seteve Zargo
Ms. Corkrum returned to Liberia late January 2020 not a fugitive but a free woman, after running from the law for nearly eight years. She lauded the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) government of President George Manneh Weah for vindicating her.
The government had announced that it has dropped all charges against her. The former LAA MD noted that “justice has finally been served.”
“It is wonderful to be back home and I’m grateful to President Weah and his team as well as the Liberian people,” she said.
The controversial former LAA boss returned to the country and was met upon arrival by a huge crowd that had converged to welcome her back home. The composition of the crowd, neatly attired in different colorful clothes and t-shirts with her picture and several inscriptions, comprised people who worked with her during her time at the Airport Authority.
Ms. Corkrum clandestinely left Liberia with the help of some top security personalities that were serving in the Unity Party-led government, who were also staunch confidants of former President Elle Johnson Sirleaf.
Days after her rousing arrival to Monrovia, the government of Liberia through the office of the Solicitor General, Cllr. Cephus asked the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case and the single-sourcing of a US-based firm to help with Ms. Corkrum’s extradition.