‘Setup’

-Senators Describe Extra Sitting

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

Some Senators of the Liberian Senate have described their returned to the legislature for an extra session as a setup or an armed bushed in order to have them act on the impeachment Bill currently by that body.

Making the disclosure Tuesday, October 31, 2018 in the first sitting of the extra session, several Senators stated that it seems that they have been called back for the sole purpose of acting on the impeachment proceedings of Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh from the Supreme Court bench instead of addressing some critical national issues as they perceived.

Those Senators include, Senators Thomas Grupee, Daniel Naatehn, Conmany Wesseh, Oscar Cooper and Stephen Zargo among others of Nimba, Gbarpolu, River Gee, Margibi and Lofa Counties respectively.

Those Senators made the assertion following the reading of a report submitted by the Senate committee on Judiciary, Claims and Petition chaired by Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Cllr. Varney Sherman.

Upon the reading of the report in open session, the plenary of the Liberian Senate burst into complete disarray with some Senators expressing serious disappointment over the reason for their returned to the legislature.

“I am getting very worried that we are starting a matter I thought that would have been for another occasion. When we last left, we were at the point of debating whether or not this rule 63 of our own standing rule is in conformity with the constitution of Liberia. Now if the chair wants to start a discussion on the basis of a wish to impeach somebody then we are starting on a wrong footing,” Senator Wesseh expressed deep frustration.

Senator Wesseh suggested that the committee report on rule 63 of the Senate own standing rule should be stopped and postponed for another time and that they discuss other matters that are critical to the country.

“So, you people brought us here to discuss impeachment and not critical issues as you people told us?  This is a complete setup,” Senator Naatahn said.

For his part, Senator Thomas Grupee of Nimba County indicated that the issue of Associate Justice Ja’neh impeachment is not an issue of emergency and as such, it should not be placed on the plenary of the Senate during this extra session.

“I will urge this plenary that the discussion on the impeachment process of Associate Justice Ja’neh be deferred to next year when we shall have returned,” the Nimba County Senator voiced.

Senator Grupee threatened to walk out of the extra session if only they have been called back for impeachment purposes as the committee’s report suggesting.

Meanwhile, the plenary of the Liberian Senate has postponed the debate on the committee’s report to today November 2, 2018 so as to determine whether or not Associate Justice Ja’neh should be impeached from the Supreme Court bench.