Monrovia – FrontPageAfrica has reliably learned that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be attending the opening of the October 2017 Term of the Supreme Court.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
The ceremony is to commence at 9:00 am Monday, October 9, 2017 in the chamber of the high court and is expected to be attended by several dignitaries, lawyers as well as party litigants.
The high court was adjourned last Wednesday, October 4, 2017 to resume its October Term on Monday, October 9, 2017 a day to the holding of the country’s Presidential and Legislative elections slated for October 10, 2017 across the country.
Chief Justice Francis Korkpor in a remark to have the high court closed on Wednesday stated that though the high court will be hearing other cases, they will prioritize election cases that will be brought before it for adjudication by any aggrieved candidate be it Presidential or legislative.
“As we have stated earlier, this court will remain open during this election process but will close today, Wednesday, October 4, 2017 and open on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 9:00 a.m, we will be hearing other cases but we will be prioritizing election cases” stated Chief Justice Francis Korkpor.
This will be President Sirleaf last time to attend the opening of the high court as her tenure comes to an end after 12 years of rule in January 2018.
Though authorities of the Judiciary were tightlipped when contacted as to whether the President will make any remarks, sources close to the high court who spoke to FrontPage Africa on the basis of anonymity have revealed that the Liberian leader will be making a remark which many observers say will be a farewell speech, though she had declined on many occasions when invited by the Chief Justice Korkpor to come out and make remarks during previous openings of the Supreme Court which takes place twice a year, March and October respectively.
According to the same source the President’s remark is expected to be centered around her fight against corruption which she promised the Liberian people to be public enemy number one when she took power as the first female President in the country history in January 2006, but critics of her government say that not much has been done by the first female President in her 12 years rule in the fight against corruption, especially in terms of prosecution government officials accused of corruption.
Court records have shown that not a single government official accused in the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government of corruption has been tried, found guilty or convicted except for the former boss of the Liberia Telecommunication Authority, Albert Bropleh.
Mr. Bropleh was charged in 2009 with economic sabotage, misapplication of entrusted property criminal conspiracy and violating the public procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) in a competitive bidding process that cause government to loss over a million United States dollars.
He was tried in Bomi County and his case ended with a hung verdict when four out of the nine trial jury rendered a non-guilty verdict in his favor and since then the case is yet to be brought on the court docket for re-trial.