IPNEWS: The authoritative Independent Probe has gathered that pro-Brownie Samukai supporters have besieged the famous St. Paul River bridge in demand for the unconditional certification and induction of Senator-elect Brownie Samukai.
The St. Paul River Bridge links Lofa and Bong Counties in the North-western region of Liberia.
According to IPNEWS reporter in Beyan’s Town area, the pro-Brownie Samukai supporters besieged the bridge late evening Thursday, November 25, 2021, demanding President George Weah’s immediate intervention to allowing their Senator-elect Brownie Samukai certification and induction without precondition.
IPNEWS reporter covering the ongoing protest narrates that Police officers in Beyan’s Town, along the St. Paul River were overwhelmed by the angry crowd chanting pro-Samukai slogans and release the ‘Country Devil’, preventing the movement of British Ambassador to Liberia, Neil Bradley, and delegation access across the bridge.
Other trapped in the ongoing standoff is the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority, C. Mike Doyen, along with other European Investors currently visiting Liberia. Others stocked at the bridge are Health Workers, International NGOs, motorist from entering and leaving the county.
Meanwhile, authorities of the Liberian National Police have giving the Pro-Samukai protesters one hour to vacate the scene.
According to Deputy Police Commissioner for Operation, Marven Sackor, Police are observing the situation to allow the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Traditional Council mediate the standoff.
Col Marvin Sackor told State radio early Thursday morning that the time is given to the Internal Affairs Minister and the Traditional Council of Liberia in Chief Zanzan Karwor to be able to intervene in the process amicably and allow free movement.
He further said if the Internal Affairs Minister and Chief Karwor fails, they will use force to resolve the situation.
Unconfirmed report reaching IPEWS says some traditional leaders, members of the traditional school (Poro-Socirty), and pro-Brownie Samukai youths are currently taking part in the protest.
It may be recalled early July 2021, the prolonged legal battle around the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect, J. Brownie Samukai came to dark-end when the Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nagbe granted the Government of Liberia’s request to order the National Elections Commission (NEC) to halt the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai, Jr.
Associate Justice Nagbe said the petition for the Writ of Prohibition being properly applied for and taking into consideration the controlling laws cited, is hereby granted.
He ordered the Clerk of the court to issue the peremptory Writ of Prohibition, send a mandate to the first respondent, NEC, disallowing the certification of the second respondent J. Brownie Samukai, Jr., until his disability imposed on him by his conviction is removed according to law. And is here by ordered.
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice filed a Writ of Prohibition on March 29, 2021, to prevent Senator-elect Samukai, Jr. from being certificated by the National Elections Commission.
The government prays that Samukai is a judicially disenfranchised citizen and a convicted felon.
In February this year, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling, sentencing the former Defense Minister, along with two former subordinates to a two-year imprisonment for misuse of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) pension fund, but with a condition that they would be set free if they restitute the US$1.3 million over a one-year period.
The Government argued that with the guilty verdict hanging over him, Samukai, who had earlier secured a massive victory in Lofa County on the opposition Collaborating Political Party’s ticket during the Special Senatorial Election, was unfit to serve as Senator and therefore should not be certificated by the NEC.
The latest ruling is a major blow to the embattled Senator-elect who is desperately looking for an opportunity to mend his broken character, and the CPP that is seeking to increase its number at the Liberian Senate going into the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections.
