-As they receive lucrative jobs
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama City, Lofa County, has dropped all charges (murder, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, disorderly conduct and obstruction of highways, possession and sale of physical objects for lethal use) levied against Josiah Saahkeh, Peter T.O. James, S. Njamilah Borngoui and several others.
They were charged with the above crimes and sent to court based on their alleged involvement in the September 29, 2023,political crisis that resulted in the loss of two lives in Foya City, Foya Statutory District, Lofa County.
While the matter was still in court, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr, President of the Republic of Liberia, designated Josiah Saahkeh as Foya City Mayor, Peter T. O. James as Foya Statutory District Superintendent, and S. Njamilah Borngoui as Foya Administrative District Commissioner. Following their nomination with other local leaders of Lofa County, the Liberian Senate didn’t confirm them due to the gravity of their case before the court.
According to Arthur Kowah, Chief of Office Staff in the office of Senator Momo Cyrus, senator of Lofa County, the three nominees were asked to get clearance from the court before being confirmed by the Liberian Senate.
Kowah told journalists that the decision of the Senate was based on a concern raised by Rep. Thomas Fallah, Representative of Electoral District 1, Lofa County, who vowed previously that under no condition, Josiah, Peter, and Borngoui would be confirmed due to their alleged involvement in the lost of lives in Foya during the gone 2023 General Elections.
Rep. Fallah said, that confirming the nominees in question to serve their respective posts will be like rewarding them for the atrocities they committed. “Liberia is a country of laws and we say no to impunity”. He added.
On September 29, 2024, in Foya, a brutal clash between CDC and UP occurred, resulting in the loss of two lives ( males).
Following the police investigation, Josiah Saahkeh, Peter T.O. James, Njamilah Borngoui, and several others were charged with multiple crimes as mentioned above, and were sent to court. The defendants on many occasions argued that the state had no evidence against them; accusing the former ruling CDC of indicting them falsely for political reasons.
The Court has however, on May 27, 2024, dismissed said case and restored the defendants’ rights and liberties of the individuals.
Foya citizens are now waiting to see whether or not their local leaders will be confirmed and subsequently appointed by the president to serve.
