IPNEWS-Monrovia: What seen to be a sort of ‘doubting precession’ in the dispensary of Justice in Liberia is gradually taking shape at the Ministry of Justice.

There are too many buggery on decisions made on key national justice issues.

It may be recalled, in December 2019, a week before runaway chairman of the Council of Patriot-CoP, Henry Costa arrived, Solicitor General Syrenius Cephas told newsmen that the government had a seal indictment to arrest Mr. Costa upon arrival.

Minutes after that Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean denied the claims that the government had nothing as a seal indictment to arrest Mr. Henry Costa.

Again, Justice Minister has told FrontPageAfrica that he has no knowledge of government dropping corruption charges against former Airport Authority Ellen Corkrum.

It may be recalled, Solicitor General Syrenius Cephas , to reporters in Monrovia that the government of Liberia has dropped criminal charges against the former Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), for the lack of evidence against the accused.

The statement by the Attorney-General, Frank Musah Dean has now sparked suggestions that the runaway former Airport Authority Director-General would be re-indicted, even though the criminal case has since been dismissed on December 9, by Judge Nancy F. Sammy of Criminal Court ‘C’.

With this newest statement of Justice Minister Dean, legal pundits are questioning the rationale for the continuous contradictory movements and statements between the Solicitor General Syrenius Cephas and the Attorney-General, for the Republic of Liberia, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean.

It may also be recalled, in August 2019, Special Independent Prosecutor and Chairman of the Assets Investigation, Restitution and Recovery Team (AIRRET) constituted by the Solicitor General, wrote the Justice Minister inviting him to answer to account for payment he might have received during the first term of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

But the Justice Minister dismissed the allegation levelled against him by the head of ARRET, Cllr. Arthur Johnson and termed same as “speculative”.

The Executive Law clearly distinguishes the role of the Justice Minister, to include: procure proper evidence for, and conduct, prosecute or defend all suits and proceedings in the courts in which the Republic of Liberia or any official thereof, as to such officer is a party or maybe interested.

The Justice Minister is also to institute all legal proceedings necessary for law enforcement; furnish opinions as to legal matters and render services requiring legal skills to the President and other agencies of the executive branch of the Government;

The Justice Minister also oversees the codification of Liberian statutory law and the editing and printing the Supreme Court opinions, and of such of the opinions of the Minister of Justice as he may deem valuable for preservation in book form;

The Justice Minister also supervises the correctional system and the commitment and treatment of prisoners, among others.

However, the Solicitor General, being a subordinate of the Justice Minister shall prepare and argue all cases to which the Government of Liberia or any officer thereof, as such officer, is a party; provided that the Minister of Justice may himself conduct any case if in his opinion the interest of the government requires him to do so;

The Solicitor General has immediate supervision of the conduct of all litigations involving the Government of Liberia, including the activities of the county, territorial and district attorneys.

In a statement on state radio yesterday, Cllr. Cephas rolled back his decision on the dismissal of the petition against Corkrum, stating that the decision to dismiss the case was recommended by former Solicitor General Betty Larmin-Blamo.

In a communication from the Solicitor General to the head of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Cllr. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, dated February 3, 2020, wrote:

“We present our compliments and have the honor to forward herewith the attached case file involving Madam Ellen Corkrum, Musa Bility and members of the Board of Directors of RIA and a number of commercial banks which were investigated, others dropped and some were subsequently indicted for “Economic Sabotage, Theft of Property, Criminal conspiracy, and Misapplication of entrusted funds.”

“A careful review of the records of the case shows, that the previous government entered a Nolle Prosequoi in favor of a number of defendants involved in this matter prior to our ascendancy, and we in recent times, did the same due to the absence of Madam Corkrum and to avoid being seen as pursuing a “selective prosecution.”

“Further, we also noticed that a sole source recommendation was made by our predecessor Cllr. Betty Lamin Blamo to hire a US-based firm, Fox Rothschild to which US$200,00(Two Hundred Thousand Dollars that was allegedly paid to Fox Rothschild to have Madam Corkrum brought back to Liberia.

“Finally, the investigation should take into consideration the legal basis for the former Solicitor General Betty Lamin-Blamo recommending a sole source bid or selection of Fox Rothschild recommending a sole source bid or selection of Fox Rotschild, what became of the extradition proceedings, if any among them.”

It may be recalled, in an exclusive interview with IPNews a day after indictment was dropped against her, the former LAA Director-General Ellen Corkrum hailed the government of Liberia, as the ‘best government in recent Liberian years’, for rendering fair justice.

Ellen YKwame Corkrum, said the judicial system of Liberia  is designed to promote and to protect the fundamental freedom of individuals and of groups.

Madam Corkrum stated: ‘When that  there is delayed, we know it is denied; however, in the wake of strong leadership, justice once again holds a chance of being administered’.
” My fellow Liberians, Ghanaians, Americans and global citizens, I express to you today, the onset of the realization that we are on a path to breaking grounds; grounds for a group of citizens who have until now, been shadowed by the oppression of leaders who have abused the trust of its subjects.”

“Those leaders are out. Though physically some may still be lingering, their voices, their ink power and their craft are no longer
sewn within the fabric of our Liberian garment; ”

“Liberia has always been a blessed nation, and today we are abundantly blessed.” Corkrum said.

She said over a century and a half of leaders who suppressed the majority either through tribal and manufactured eliteness, followed by hostile military takeover, civil war guerrilla leaders, and post war desperation, we now have a distinctive democratically elected leader for and by our people— His Excellency, Our Honorable President George Manneh Oppong Weah.

“What do I mean by “democratically elected leader for and by our people”

She lavished praises on President George Weah as a good leader or organic man; trusted executor and a wiseman.

Corkrum : The sincerity that he has for the future and growth of our
country. This is not a blanket statement. Again, let’s look at the leadership he exemplified during the darkest hours of most Liberians, and his pureness in carrying this out when no one was watching, when no one was writing awards about him.”
“He carried out leadership silently and touched the hearts of many Liberians who felt desolate while in the refugee camps.”

“I thank our Honorable President Weah for creating an environment in our country where the three branches of government can function independently as our constitution reads and for the intestinal fortitude that he  continuesto exhibit in taking on this challenge of truly carving the structure to bring our country into post war success. ”

“Its our President’s Cabinet members who continue to give him support and guidance, led by Minister Nathanial McGill;”

“I thank my attorney, Counselor Arthur Johnson. I thank our entire Ministry of Justice Leadership team and the courts, led by Honorable Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius
Cephus, and Minister Musa Dean. I thank Barrister Jacob Ifere of Abuja.”

“I thank Counselor Varney Sherman. I thank all of you who have trusted me and prayed for me.
I thank my uncle, Honorable Cyrus Cooper, who has been not just my family, but my friend and inspiration. I thank my friend, Nehemiah Garley, who exhibits courage beyond words. I thank my friend, Cecelia Hippe, for standing with me every step of the way. I thank my brother, Ophoree Diah, for his relentless support. I thank my brother, Mohammed Kamara, for his unwavering love. I thank my mothers Lucretia Korto Turnquist and Josephine Arna Gibson, and my father Emmanuel Efome Kwame. I thank all my aunties and uncles and Aunty Rita, even in her death.”

“I thank my brothers and sisters. I thank my children, Michelle and Michael. Lastly, I leave you with hope as “Hope in reality is the worst of all evil, because it prolongs the torments of Man.”— Friedrich Nietzsche.

Recognizing today  that last year, did we begin the path of recovery from the war and from a century and a half plus, of inequalities suffered under manufactured elite regimes. With this, we can now separate “Past Fallen Hopes” from “Today’s Hopes” for a prosperous and humane nation for all—Liberia.

Ms. Ellen Corkrum was the former Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority. Ms. Corkrum, whilst serving as Managing Director (MD) of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), on her own and in conspiracy with others.

The Government alleged that she illegally procured the transfer of US$US$269,000.00 of public funds to a fictitious company, Diaspora Consulting, LLC (Diaspora), and to its CEO, Mr. Momar Dieng, her friend from the Kennedy School, Harvard University, for work that he and his company did not perform. Ms. Corkrum also authorized the illegal transfer of US$56,750 of LAA funds to her romantic partner Melvin Johnson, and his firm Melvin Johnson and Associates (a law firm in the State of Georgia, United States of America) allegedly for services rendered in connection with the security system at Roberts International Airport (RIA), which services were neither performed by Johnson or his firm. The transfer was carried out by First International Bank (“FIB”) through its then-Head of Operations Mr. Jeremi Tegli) and another officer (Mr. Justin Ogugua), at Ms. Corkrum’s behest, despite the fact that the application for transfer did not contain the requisite authorizing signatures.

Ms. Corkrum obtained authority from the LAA Board to purchase certain computer equipment for the Board. She obtained access to US$19,480 in LAA funds. However, she delivered to the LAA no more than $8,500 worth of equipment. The balance – at least US$10,980 – remains unaccounted for.

On July 30, 2013, a Special Grand Jury sitting in Montserrado County, Liberia, brought down an indictment against Ms. Corkrum and other co-conspirators, for the crimes of economic sabotage, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, and misapplication of entrusted property. A writ of arrest was issued and served on all of the other Defendants thereby bringing them under the jurisdiction of the court, except for Ms. Corkrum, Mr. Momor Dieng, and Mr. Melvin Johnson who were all outside of the bailiwick of Liberia at the time the writ was issued.