-Supreme Court alarms
By G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Supreme Court has raised a red flag over allegations about the increasing wave of criminals impersonating actors of the judiciary, particularly hiding under the canopy of ministerial officials and sheriffs assigned to the courts across the country.
With this, the Court had called on the Ministry of Justice to have the situation addressed by removing those who are believed to be exhibiting criminal records in the various courts.
Delivering the charge of the Supreme Court at the opening of the March term of court on Monday, March 11, 2024, the most senior associate justice of the Supreme Court Jamesette Howard-WolloKolle stated that the court has no record of those ministerial officials operating within the various courts across the country.
She revealed that those believed to be illegally operating within the corridors of the courts are on government payroll and are on monthly salaries.
“What is more surprising is the fact that all of these unaccounted ministerial officials and previtals are on government payroll and are receiving salary every month even though there are no judicial records on them as ministerial officials and previtals.
“In this regard, we call on the Ministry of Justice to work with the court administrator to ensure that this situation is arrested to ensure that all these officials who have exhibited criminal records in our courts are purged from our system.”
In furtherance, the Supreme Court also called on all stakeholders to develop a national policy and provide budgetary allotment to enhance the fruitful discharge of the functions of the judiciary.
“We are also calling on all national stakeholders, the legislature, and the office of the president to develop a national policy and provide budgetary allotment for the implementation of section 50.1 of the judicial law and section 112.1 of the decent estate law relating to the sheriff and pre vitals to avoid the nuance the judiciary is faced with.” Justice Wollokollie said.
Meanwhile, in response to the charge delivered by the supreme court, Liberia’s attorney general and minister of justice, Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh on behalf of the executive provided the court the assurance to help create the enabling environment that will lead to the smooth functioning of the judiciary.
“We also note the remark of the chief justice that limited budgetary allotment to the judiciary affects the operation of the judiciary.” He expressed the immediate need for the three branches of government to coordinate. “Your honor, the executive branch assures you that it will do all in its power to ensure the judiciary has all the necessary resources for the efficient operation of the judiciary.”
The Minister of Justice further added that the ministry will ensure that all those who are believed to be criminally working within the judiciary system are removed from the system He stated that the issues of theft by Sheriffs if brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice will be investigated and if found responsible will be prosecuted.
