MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Presiding Justice in Chambers, Ceinah Clinton Johnson, on Thursday issued the alternative Writ of Mandamus as prayed for by seven suspended lawmakers by the Majority Block for the illegal suspension without salaries.
Mandamus is a special proceeding to obtain a writ requiring the respondents to perform an official duty consistent with the Civil Procedure Law.
As a result of Justice Johnson’s February 17 writ, the Majority Block headed by Speaker Richard Koon, the Ministry of Finance has been mandated to file their response on or before March 10 to the lawmakers’ account.
The suspended lawmakers are Frank Saah Foko, Eugene Kollie, Edward Papie Flomo, Zinnah Norman, Alex Sonniboy, Marvin Cole, and Abu Kamara.
In another development, Judge Roosevelt Willie is expected to grant or deny former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and four others’ request to dismiss the criminal indictment against them today, Friday, February 28.
Judge Willie’s decision will be as a result of arguments between the Defense and Prosecuting Lawyers, with the Defense Team arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction on the subject matter because it borders on national security and cannot be reviewed by any court.
But the Prosecution told the court that only the President of the Republic is immune to national security, and as such, the FIU is not part of the National Security Council, and as such, their position does not exempt them.
The application before the court in the indictment maintained that over six million US dollars were used for National Security operations, and as such, coming to court to disclose any information will violate the 2011 National Security Act.
The five former government officials, Samuel Tweah, Nyenati Tuan, Jefferson Karmo, Moses Cooper, and Stanley Ford, were indicted for multiple offenses ranging from theft of property to illegal disbursement and economic sabotage, among others.
They have since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
