IPNEWS: Several members of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) have expressed deep disappointment after their leadership publicly endorsed a campaign that led to President Joseph Boakai withdrawing his nominations of Cllr. Johnathan Massaquoi, as Executive Director, Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court.

The condemnation comes barely a month after President Boakai decided to replace Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi, to setup a vetting committee for a new Executive Director, for which scores of LIBA viewed as a “betrayal” and counterproductive to the Association principles and core values, as a legal fraternity gear towards supporting  its member.

In order to prevent Cllr. Massaquoi from serving the position as an Executive Director, Cllr. Sylvester Rennie, president of the LNBA claimed that President Boakai has broken a decades-long tradition in the judiciary by appointing officials, including Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi without vetting by the Bar.

Cllr. Rennie said LIBA was not consulted prior to the issuance of the executive order or the appointment of Cllr. Massaquoi, by President Boakai.

The Bar president notes that LIBA exclusion was a major error and a dramatic departure from the long history of the Executive branch consulting the Liberian legal community on judicial matters.

He insisted that the tradition for appointing any legal mind to a public positions within the judicial sector, or the justice sector, the Bar is normally consulted to conduct a vetting process to ensure the rightful cream is selected. 

Cllr. Rennie said although Cllr. Massaquoi is a lawyer and a member of Association, however, the Bar Association was unaware of his appointment.

“We do the vetting and then send a short listing to the President. Even though, the 1986 Constitution gives President Boakai the responsibility to make nomination as he chooses yet the Bar should have been consulted. Infact, LIBA drafted the bill to establish the courts and presented it to the Legislature in 2021.”

“The Bar’s role has not changed in its quest for the formation of War and Economic Crimes Courts for Liberia.”

“The Bar will work with all lawyers, But the Bar remains an organization that respects itself and must be respected by every other person like how our international partners respect us.” Cllr. Rennie said.

I’m support of Cllr. Rennie’s statement, another past President Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe condemned the process leading to appoint Cllr. Massaquoi.

“There should have been a wider consultation with the civil society community, victims and the LIBA.”

“It is the first time in our history that we have done this so it really matters. It has nothing to do with presidential authority or his qualifications. We require support of the wider society. Conversation with civil society was not done. It’s shocking. In the end it’s the victims who need to feel closure on this.” Cllr. Gongole maintain.

Cllr. Gongloe further noted that he was concerned that unless the appointment was embraced by victims it could sow seeds of conflict in years to come.

Contrary to these assertions, Cllr. Johnathan Massaquoi’s appointment was Hailee by both victims and some alledged perpetrators. The largest block of victims, the massacre victims, other civil society organizations including the Female lawyers Association, Student groups among others endorsed the appointment.

Rennie and Gongloe revealed their involvement with the campaign to replace Cllr. Massaquoi based on his legal services for madam Agnes Taylor, former wife of convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other actors of war crimes in Liberia who were lied upon.

In a swift reaction to the pair comments several aggrieved members of the LIBA have denounced Rennie and Gongloe’s action as a “betrayal” which runs contrary to the LIBA “core values” upon which the Association was formed.

The aggrieved LIBA members declared that the Association had dramatically changed and no longer up to the task to champion fundamental of  fair play as garrantee by the Liberia constitution.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed report coming in says LNBA initially requested President Joseph Boakai to nominate its National Secretary General Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah.

It may be recalled President Boakai late August 2024 relief Cllr. Johnathan Massaquoi as Executive Director, office of War and Economic Crimes Court and setup a vetting committee for a new Executive Director.

The move by President Boakai came as a shock to many following days issuance of a press statement expressing his confidence in Cllr. Massaquoi to lead a genuine process for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia.