Monrovia – Elders, women and youth groups in Nimba County have expressed concerns over what they termed as “political confusion and national disunity by maneuvering to impeach Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh, a prominent son of Nimba County”.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
In a joint statement, the Nimbaians said they are saddened by the actions of the members of the House of Representatives who are seeking the impeachment of the Associate Justice, who according to them, helped usher peaceful political and democratic transition in Liberia.
The petition to impeach Justice Ja’neh was filed before the House by Representatives Acarous Gray (Mont. County, District 8) and Thomas Fallah (Mont. County District 5). Both alleged that Justice Ja’neh “committed a serious official misconduct by engaging in a wanton and unsavory exercise of his judicial discretion far exceeding the bounds of elementary judicial interpretation of issues simply to satisfy his personal ego”.
The lawmakers also want Ja’neh impeached for what they termed as “proved misconduct, gross breach of duty, inability to perform the functions of his office by allegedly allowing justice to be served where it belongs no matter the status of the party affected.”
The case is so far dangling between the Legislature and the Supreme Court, which ordered a stay order on the House’s proceedings. The House is yet to adhere to the Supreme Court’s order, rather, they’ve called for a dialogue with the Legislature.
But prominent citizens of Nimba, who in their statement recalled how the human and natural resources of Nimba have contributed immensely and continue to have significant impact on the political and socio-economic development of Liberia, called on President George Manneh Weah to spearhead the promotion of inclusive political participation of all Liberians regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation or religious belief; and to trumpet the message of peace, reconciliation and national unification to all parties as it is the primary basis for maintaining law and order and sustaining unity and democracy in Liberia.
They recalled in the statement that Liberia’s “recent history of tribalism, sectionalism, hatred, political confusion and lawlessness culminated in the civil war marked by genocide and untold human suffering.”
They admonished the Speaker of the House, Bhofal Chamber, and member of the House of Representatives involved with the impeachment process to refrain from such, warning that it does not promote the peace, reconciliation, unity and solidarity that we desperately need to re-reconstruct and develop the country.
“We specifically appeal to the President, as head of state and coordinator of the three branches of our government, to use his good offices to persuade members of the House of Representatives to stop the process of impeachment of this illustrious son of Nimba, which is clearly distracting us from the path of nation-building under the pro-poor agenda,” the statement noted.
The statement was signed by Dr. Wilfred Sei Boayue, Hon. Harry T. Yuan, Sr., Dr. Alfre A. Kulah, Hon. Christiana Dagadu, Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, Cllr. Roland F. Dahn, Hon. Musa H. Bility, Dr. Yarsuo Weh-Dorliae, Madam Alice Endee Baysah, Dr. David P. Kialain, Madam Margaret V. Korto, Madame Louise Siaway, Mr. Simmons Kidka, Madam Estella Wehyee and Mr. Patrick Paye-Tee.