By: Melvin Jackson
MONROVIA: In accordance with the Judiciary Code of Law revised 17.2.5 which mandates that the Supreme Court of Liberia shall hold two terms annually commencing on the second Monday in March and October respectively, the nation’s highest court of law on Monday, March 11, 2024 opened its March Term of Court with Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie, raising a red flag on allegations over the increasing wave of criminals impersonating as sheriff from the Ministry of Justice.
Delivering the Justices Charge, Associate Justice Wolokollie, raised a red flag on allegations over the increasing wave of criminals impersonating as sheriff from the Ministry of Justice.
Stating that their actions distort party litigants from having free access to the rule of law, Justice Wolokollie called on the Ministry of Justice to have the situation arrested by removing those who are believed to be exhibiting criminal records in the various courts across the country.
Justice WoloKolle stated that the court has no record of those ministerial officials operating within the various courts across the country, adding however that it was revealed that those believed to be illegally operating within the corridors of the courts are on government payroll receiving salary.
“What is more surprising is the fact that all of these unaccounted ministerial officials are on government payroll and are receiving salaries on a monthly basis despite the fact that there are no judicial records on them as ministerial officials.
“In this regard, we call on the Ministry of Justice to work with the court administrator to ensure that this situation is arrested to ensure that all these officials who have exhibited criminal records in our courts are purged from our system,” the Supreme4 Court Justice said.
In furtherance, the Supreme Court Justice on behalf of the high court also called on all stakeholders to develop a national policy and provide budgetary allotment to enhance the fruitful discharge of the functions of the judiciary.
“We are also calling on all national stakeholders, including the Legislature and the office of the President to develop a national policy towards providing budgetary allotment for the implementation of section 50.1 of the Judicial Law Section 112.1 of the Decent Estate Law relating to the office of sheriff to avoid the predicament the judiciary is faced with.” Justice Wolokollie said.
In response to the charge delivered by the Supreme Court, Liberia’s Attorney General and the Minister of Justice Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh, on behalf of the Executive Branch of Government assured the Court that the Ministry will create the enabling environment that will lead to the smooth functioning of the judiciary.
“We also note the remark of the Chief Justice that limit budgetary allotment to the judiciary effects the operation of the judiciary,” he said as he expressed the immediate need for the three branches of government to coordinate.
“Your honor, the Executive Branch assures you that it will do all in its power to ensure the judiciary will have all the necessary resources for the efficient operation of the judiciary,” the Justice Minister further assured.
The Minister of Justice further added that the ministry will ensure that all those who are believed to be criminally working within the judiciary are removed from the system, stating that the issues of theft by Sheriffs, if brought to the attention of the ministry of justice, will be investigated and if a culprit found responsible will be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Sie-Nyenen –Yuoh was absent from the ceremony, but her absence was attributed to poor health.
Although Legal experts’ described the absence of the chief justice from the court opening as unusual as it did not go unnoticed, being the most senior, Presiding Justice Jamesetta Harward Wolokollie who represented her and play the role informed the gathering that the chief justice has gone out of the bailiwick of the country to seek medical attention and could not return in due time for the March term opening as mandated by law.
Currently the Supreme Court Bench has four justices following the demise of Associate justice Joseph Nagbe who died in Ghana after a prolonged period of illness.
The opening of the March Term of the Court also witnessed the presence of President Joseph N. Boakai, Speaker Fonati J. Koffa, Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karngar -Lawrence, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and a host of several development partners and other dignitaries.
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