MONROVIA: While other Liberian statesmen and stateswomen might be pursuing a path as if to be politically correct, turning a blind eye to what seems to be critical governance missteps under the Joseph Nyuma Boakai-led Unity Party administration, a few persons of courage have been endeavouring “to speak truth of power”. Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility is one of such persons not letting the president and his appointed officials have a field day without a check. Once again, this time on the president’s controversial ouster of the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Bility has tendered a short but instructive note to the President, as The Analyst reports.
In reaction to the suspension of Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Executive Governor Aloysius Tarlue by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Nimba County Representative Musa Hassan Bility is calling on the president to rescind the decision and do the legal, rightful thing.
It can be recalled that President Boakai suspended Tarlue for alleged corruption–alleged violations of several financial laws, including the CBL Act of 1999, the Revenue Code of Liberia Act of 2011, and the Public Financial Management Act of 2009.
In a communication to the CBL Governor, the President wrote: “Dear Hon. Tarlue: I write to inform you that you are hereby suspended from office as Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, without compensation, with immediate effect, pending the results of an investigation that I have ordered into your stewardship of the Central Bank of Liberia.”
Bility Reacts
President Boakai’s action against the CBL Executive Governor is not going down well with major national stakeholders, including Representative Bility, who contend that the Liberian leader has gone ultra vires.
Others apparently cowering to the president’s bully, some are not. Nimba District #7 Representative is not, at all.
Writing on his social media page, he said: “Dear Mr. President, in light of my interpretation of the CBL act, it appears that the authority to suspend the Governor may not be within your jurisdiction as articulated in your recent communication.”
Bility continued: “To honour your commitment to upholding the constitution, I kindly urge you to reconsider your actions and adhere to the prescribed procedures outlined in the CBL Act.”
He further warned the president that “as the leader of our nation, it is imperative to ensure that laws are upheld and respected”.
“Therefore, I humbly request that you address this matter accordingly, Your Excellency,” he also said. “It seems that the legal counsel you received may have been misguided, and I trust that a corrective course of action will be taken.”
Tarlue Runs to Supreme Court
Meanwhile, the suspended Central Bank Governor has filed before the Supreme Court of Liberia sitting in its March term a petition for a writ of prohibition against the Executive Branch of the government of the Republic of Liberia by and through the Ministry of Justice.
He is imploring the Supreme court for the writ of prohibition so that the petitioner show cause why the peremptory writ should not be issued on the president and the Executive Branch.
Tarlue argues that by his appointment as the Executive Governor of the CBL, he has a definite term to serve and therefore cannot be dismissed by the President of Liberia or removed from performing his function, except by impeachment by the National Legislature.
Section 13.1 of the Amended and Restated Act establishing the CBL (1999), which was published into handbill on September 21, 2020, clearly states that the appointment of the non-Executive Governors, Executive Governor, and Deputy Governor shall be from among persons who are in good standing and of unimpeachable character, from the business and academic community, with experience and expertise in the business of banking, finance, economics, law, or management, by the president of the Republic of Liberia, subject to confirmation by the Liberia Senate, of the term of five years.
Tarlue further stated in his petition: “As to count three above, the petitioner provides that the appointment procedure must be finalized within sixty days preceding the expiration of the term of the relevant no-Executive Governor, with the condition that a Non-Executive Governor by effluxion of time shall be eligible for reappointment provided that the he or she shall not serve for more than two consecutive five-year-terms.”
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