MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court of Liberia has denied the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Chairman’s petition, challenging the new LACC Act seeking the removal of the entire LACC Board of Commissioners.
Reading the opinion on behalf of the Court on Thursday, January 26, 2023, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh said:” The Legislative Branch of Government has unquestionable power to amend, modify, or abolish the LACC as provided by law.”
Chief Justice Youh said the Legislature’s action cannot, therefore, be deemed a violation of the Constitution as claimed by the petitioner.
Prior to the Court’s opinion, Cllr. Edwin Martin’s petition questioned the unconstitutionality of Section 16.1 and 16.2 of the new LACC Act, citing Article 21(a) of the 1986 Constitution as his legal reliance.
The law states:” No person shall subject to any law or punishment which was not in effect at the time of the commission of an offense, nor shall the Legislature enact any bill of attainder or ex Po facto law.”