MONROVIA – Senators Milton Teahjay of Sinoe County and Prince Y. Johnson of Nimba County have warned against any decision from the Senate that will conduct confirmation proceedings for President George Weah’s nominee, Frank Musa-Dean, as justice on the Bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
President George Weah recently nominated his six-year Justice Minister for confirmation by the Liberian Senate as justice on the bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia. If confirmed, he will replace Justice Joseph Nagbe, who has asked for early retirement due to his unstable health condition.
In their separate ways, they stated their opinions on why and why not. In a communication to the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie, Senator Teahjay has asked the Senate to hold the confirmation of the nominee because, according to him:
The current Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe has not resigned/voluntarily exited his position in keeping with the constitution.
In compliance with Title 17 of the new judicial law and other applicable laws of Liberia, there is no vacancy on the bench of the honorable Supreme Court of Liberia.
Senator Teahjay argues, “The confirmation of Justice-designate Musa Dean without ensuring that Associate Justice Nagbe legally vacates the position as Associate Justice will result in six (6) Justices on the bench of the Supreme Court, and such an act will be in violation of Article 67 of the 1986 constitution of the Republic of Liberia, which provides, in pertinent part, that the Supreme Court shall comprise one Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.”
Senator Teahjay also believes that Nagbe’s request for early retirement is not supported by law and should not be honored by the honorable Liberian Senate, considering that the request does not meet the minimal requirements for approval as contained in Chapter 13, Section 13.3, and 13.4 of Title 17 of the New Judicial Law, Liberia Code of Law Revised.
According to Sen. Teahjay, contrary to the communication from Associate Justice Nagbe requesting early retirement due to prolonged illness, the Executive Mansion published on Thursday, December 28, 2023, that the nomination of Cllr. Frank Musa Dean was a result of the resignation of his honor Cllr. Joseph Nagbe due to illness.
Teahjay said, “In view of the aforesaid, it is a fundamental law and commonplace to resolve that the decision to remove any associate justice on grounds of inability to perform the function of the office, as otherwise proven that Justice Nagbe resigned upon the conduct of an investigation, it will not only be a gross miscalculation on the part of the Senate but an unorthodox act to proceed with such confirmation of the nominee.”
Weah is Playing Double Standard
For his part, Senator Prince Johnson of Nimba County has accused President George Weah of playing a double standard judging by his last-minute decision to nominate his justice minister to the Bench of the honorable Supreme Court of Liberia.
Sen. Johnson, who has not questioned President Weah’s legal authority to do so, says President Weah is smartly planning his exit strategy because he is going to be legally accountable for his stewardship of the country for the past six years.
“To me, it’s a cover-up, the new government will be auditing; his (Dean) Ministry needs to be audited; he needs to account for his stewardship at the Justice Ministry. Who’s going to account for malpractices?”
The Nimba county also accused the Justice Minister of covering up investigative reports of mysterious deaths and missing people during the administration of the George Weah Government. “Where are investigative reports on all these things that happened under the Weah government? This is a cover-up, and the President is playing us. This is a double standard.”