-As Malicious Precedence Kicks Into Slow-motion; Others Decried Impeachment Saga As Unconstitutional And Now A ‘Developed Town Trap’ And Now, Who’s Next?
The House of Representatives-driven impeachment exercise, despite being chided with massive criticisms and condemnations while also branded as maliciously bad precedence, unconstitutional; politically motivated; the axe got in full swing and mercilessly landed on the feeble neck of the once embattled- Supreme Court’s Associated Justice Kabinah M. Ja’neh thus booting out of the highest Court.
Pundits who keenly followed the entire impeachment’s procedure noted of being overwhelmed to allegedly see the government’s all-out determination to stamp Ja’neh out desperately from immunity enjoyed by both members of the Legislature and the Supreme Court regarding divergent view(s) advanced on the floor during deliberation in session of which they are not liable of being reprimanded as enshrined in the Constitution for protection.
The pundits also allegedly continue that instead, Ja’neh was hooked in that direction, again based on his stance on the Road Fund Case levied by government to generate revenue, something they reportedly considered as being political and sends a signal of sliding out of control because what goes around, comes around and that they (impeachment cookers) should be mindful. However, they (pundits) intoned that Ja’neh is finally gone with the wind, but who might be the next casualty remains the most troubling point to ponder.
In a related development, a local daily reported that Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh of the Supreme Court has been found guilty by the Senate following impeachment by the House of Representatives on one of the four counts, involving the official misconduct and gross breach of duty of the Road Fund Case.
The petitioners believed that Justice Ja’neh has exercised an “abuse of discretion, granting a Writ of Prohibition” in the Road Fund Case, which denied the government of collecting levy/taxes in the total sum of US$27 million.
In the Road Fund Act, petroleum dealers in the country have been authorized to collect US$0.30 (thirty cents) imposed on the pump price of petroleum products and remit US$0.20 to government revenue, which have over the years summed
to US$27m.
On Friday, March 29, in the Senate Chamber, 22 Senators voted guilty on the count of the Road Fund Case in the Associate Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment trial; 4 Senators voted not guilty, the daily added.
It can be recalled that the ruling party-the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), launched an unprecedented bid to remove Associate Justice Kabineh Mohammed Ja’neh over what the party has allegedly described as “proven misconduct, abuse of public office, wanton abuse of judicial discretion, fraud, misuse of power and corruption.”
CDC’s Representatives, Thomas P. Fallah, and Acarous Gray finally submitted a Bill of Impeachment Petition based on what they believe is a litany of factual and legal reasons.
On Tuesday, July 17, during the 46th Day Sitting, upon receipt of the Impeachment Petition and in accordance with a motion proffered by Grand Kru County District #1 Representative Nathaniel Barway, which was voted in favor of, House Speaker Bhofal Chambers accordingly set up an eight-man Ad-Hoc Committee to review and investigate the Impeachment Petition as well as write-out of the proceedings.
The Committee was given three weeks, as of Tuesday, July 17, to begin work and report to Plenary.
Rep. Karnie Wesso, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is chairman and Rep. Edward Karfiah is the co-chairman. Members are Rep. Dickson Seboe, Rep. Jeremiah Koung, Rep. Dr. Isaac Roland, Rep. Clarence Gahr and Rep. Rustonlyn S. Dennis.
Rep. Yekeh Kolubah of Montserrado County District #10 was the only person who openly voiced his concerns against the impeachment. Later, Bomi County District #1 Representative Edwin M. Snowe and Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel Kogar also voiced out their disagreements, which resulted in the trading of invectives (sarcasm, insults) between them and Representative Gray respectively.
In the communication to House Speaker Chambers, the sponsors of the Impeachment Petition argued that Ja’neh should be impeached, ousted and removed from the Supreme Court of Liberia.
“It is our hope and prayer that this Honorable Body will give this petition its utmost consideration in order to rid our judicial system of some of the most treacherous and fraudulent activities, most of which are perpetrated by, and credited to the likes of his Honor Justice Kabineh Mohammed Ja’neh,” the communication said.
Continuing further the communication noted that “finally we trust that your timely action in this matter will arrest the deterioration of the credibility of your judicial system, protect unsuspecting victims who have been constantly robbed and denied justice, and ultimately save the Liberian judiciary from massive corruption, misuse of public office and the abuse of power and discretion.”
In the Impeachment Petition, the petitioners gave 12 counts, to support their arguments that Associate Justice Ja’neh is allegedly involved in misconduct, abuse of public office, wanton abuse of judicial discretion, fraud, misuse of power and corruption.
Article 43 of the 1986 Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power to prepare a bill of impeachment. -30-
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.
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