Monrovia – Legal proceedings in the ongoing Global Witness bribery scandal trial in Liberia has taken a sudden turn following the submission of a witness list by the prosecution.
Courtroom observers and legal practitioners were stunned late Tuesday evening when state prosecutors filed a witness list which contains the name of Cllr Johnny Momoh, a legal counsel for embattled former speaker Alex J. Tyler.
It is unclear why prosecutors included Cllr. Momoh on the list as a witness but it can be recalled that Cllr Momoh practiced law for years at the law firm of Sherman and Sherman and may have insights as to the inner workings of that law firm during the period 2010 when the alleged bribery and conspiracy is said to have occurred.
Cllr Momoh left Sherman and Sherman in or about 2014 amidst employment dispute and is currently up against his old law firm in the labor court claiming unspecified damages and liar wages.
Ironically, Cllr. Momoh’s bio is still posted on the Sherman & Sherman Law Firm website.
Cllr. Momoh started his legal career as an associate at Legal Consultants, Inc. (1996 – 1999) and was offered a trial lawyer opportunity with Sherman & Sherman, Inc. who brought him on as a Staff Counsel in December 1999.
He accepted and served in this capacity for one year when he was elevated to the position of Assistant Counsel in 2000.
By 2005, Counselor Momoh was promoted to the position of Senior Counsel, skipping the position of Senior Associate Counsel.
In addition to his general responsibilities as a trial lawyer, he served as the Resident Legal Counsel for the Firestone Plantations Company, one of the firm’s most valued clients.
Counselor Momoh is an honor graduate of Cuttington University College, now Cuttington University with a B.A. degree in History (1986) and graduate of the L. A. Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia (1996).
Immediately after his first degree, Counselor Momoh served as secondary school teacher, first at St. Augustine Episcopal High School and then the Holy Cross Mission School (1987 – 1988).
He later moved to Monrovia to become a History instructor at the University of Liberia (1989 – 2000). It was while in this last position that he attended Law School.
Cllr. Momoh managed the litigation department of Sherman & Sherman.
In 2006, in addition to being Senior Counsel, Cllr. Momoh became a partner of Sherman & Sherman. He continues to be Senior Counsel and Partner.
Legal observers are divided over whether Cllr Momoh can continue to represent Mr. Tyler while serving as a witness.
Last year Cllr Momoh filed an unsuccessful attempt to sever Tyler from Sherman claiming Tyler’s defenses are likely to be different and perhaps adverse to Sherman.
The trial continues on Thursday after the Decoration Day break when the defendants are expected to be arraigned and jury selection to follow.
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