Gov’t Admits To ‘Errors’ In NLA Case

By R Joyclyn Wea

The Supreme Court of Liberia through its Justice in Chamber last week issued a stay order halting the appointment made by President George M. Weah to have Ms. Effiong replaced as head of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) until the outcome of a conference scheduled for today be resolved.

The Justice in Chamber ruled directly and said the government was wrong, something the government did not defense.

However, the government of Liberia has admitted and realized errors of the appointment made by President George M. Weah to have Ms. Agnes Effiong replaced at the National Lottery Authority (NLA) during the conference before the justice in chamber.

The Liberian Government further begged the NLA Deputy Director Effiong to continue the post until her tenure is over.

Accordingly, Ms. Effiong legal counsel Stanley S. Kparkillen contended that the appointment by the president is unlawful and contradicts the Act establishing the Authority

Cllr. Kparkillen argued, “That under the Act creating the National Lottery Authority, the Board of Directors has the power and authority to appoint a Deputy Director General for Operations as the Principal Deputy to the Director General for an initial term of two years.”

Consistent with this mandate the chairman of the board of Directors of the National Lottery Authority, Honorable Claude J. Katta Pursuant to the resolution of the Board Upon review of the records of the Petitioner, on September 20, 2015 appointed Petitioner as Deputy Director General of the national Lottery Authority.

Cllr. Kparkillen emphasized that the appointment of the Deputy Director General of the National Lottery Authority is not within the appointing powers of the President of Liberia but rather one that is reserved to the Board of Directors of the LNLA and that the appointment of Mr. Neved Kortu to the post of Deputy Director General was illegal, Ultra vires, and unconstitutional and hence no legal effect.

He further orders that the issuance of the Alternative Writ of Prohibition against the respondents and by it, direct the immediate halt to the installation or seating of Mr. NevedKortu as the Deputy Director General of the Liberia National Authority.

And to further restrain three co-respondents, the Liberia National Police and the government of Liberia and all those working under their authority from removing the petitioner from office until a hearing shall have been heard on this petition at a time and date to be determined by your honor and ruling thereon made.