Sen. Nagbe Or Cllr. Cephus?

-As CDC Searches For Justice Banks’ Replacement

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

As June of this year fast approaches, the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is in search of a perfect replacement of Senator Joseph Nagbe at the Liberian Senate.

Senator Joseph Nagbe

This was made clear when a long time backslid CDC partisan, Cllr. Augustine Chea reaffirmed his commitment to the party at the CDC headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.

At the event, CDC Sinoe County chairman and Superintendent, Lee Nagbe Chea said Cllr. Chea is not reaffirming his membership to the party because of job but if there is a vacancy in the not too distance future in Sinoe County, the party would not hesitate to carry Cllr. Chea.

Recently, there has been ramous in some quarters and street corners that President George Weah is likely to appoint Sinoe County Senator, Cllr. Joseph Nagbe to replace Associate Justice Philip Banks upon his retirement in June of this year.

When contacted Senator Nagbe, he said though he couldn’t verified whether or not he could be named by the Liberian leader, clearly stated that he has no intention of turning down the would be offered by President George Weah.

“I will resign if I am named by the President to go to the Supreme Court. Do you want me to refuse the President’s offer, who am I to do such thing,” Senator Nagbe said.

The Sinoe County Senator indicated that he is qualified enough to be named to such position, thus, he has all it takes to serve on the Supreme Court bench of Liberia.

Senator Nagbe who has earlier announced his intension not to contest in future elections in the county, stated that talks are underway to find his perfect replacement in the Liberian Senate.

However, there are also credible reports that the President might likely appoint Cllr. Cyrenus Cephus, a long time staunch partisan of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) to said position following the resignation of Associate Justice Philip Banks.

It can be recalled that earlier this year a member of the Supreme Court bench, Associate Justice Philip Banks announced his retirement from the bench in keeping with the constitution of Liberia.

Article 72 (b) of the Liberian constitution states among other things that ‘The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts of record shall be retired at the age of seventy.’

According to Associate Justice Banks, he would turn seventy (70) years old by June of this year, thereby rendering to be of retirement age according to the constitution.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has begun the vetting process of individuals to replace Associate Justice Philip Banks upon his retirement, thus, there are fifty (50) applicants for the position.