IPNEWS- Monrovia – Daniel Nyakonah, Vice President of the Press Union of Liberia, is rallying support for Journalist Mrs. Bettie Johnson Mbayo and her husband, Dr. (MD) Moses Mbayo, after the court had found both guilty.

Nyakonah disagrees with the ruling of the Paynesville Magisterial Court against Journalist Mbayo and her husband.

On January 15, 2022, Journalist Mbayo, her husband, and Reverend Johnson Kekulah, principal of the St Simon Baptist School was reportedly manhandled on the order of Bong County’s District #3 Representative Josiah Marvin Cole. They had reportedly packed their vehicle in Rep. Cole’s driveway.

Rep. Cole had ordered his men to attack the Journalist, her husband, and Rev. Kekulah after there had been some verbal exchanges.

Following that, Police arrested and charged them with “Felonious Restraint, Disorderly Conduct, and Terroristic Threat” after a police investigation.

Speaking to reporters at the Union’s office in Monrovia recently, VP Nyakonah disagreed with the ruling of the court. He said there are instances of the court process showing that there was armed twisting from the start of the criminal investigations by the Liberia National Police.

According to him, the Mbayos were forced to offer apology, which they didn’t do.

Daniel condemned the court’s July 5, 2022, ruling adding that it ignored all the contradictions in the lawmaker’s testimony.

Meanwhile, the PUL Vice President is rallying the entire media community in Liberia to stand with the Mbayos as they take an appeal to the court of records.

In the meantime, and not losing, faith in themselves, Dr. Mbayo posted to his Facebook page this message, insisting that they won’t apologize to Rep. Cole.

This is the character I fish for, especially for the years we’ve cemented our love because I know your trait/character. I experienced what “Honorable Cole” did to us; he equally humiliated and inflicted pain on us and we were threatened to apologize to him, or we will be dragged to court and waste our time. Even in the presence of the police, Honorable Cole he said: “I’m an arm carrier, if I had my pistol on me, I would have shot you in the head and nothing will come out of it”.

With the police being involved from the onset and the presentation of all facts in court unlike “Honorable Cole” who didn’t present any evidence to substantiate any claim of his allegation against us; and after all the contradictions from his witnesses, this is where we find ourselves.

Keep strong baby, our parents cultivated us to respect everyone, to stand for the truth. I’m grateful to our parents.

We are receiving calls that we are going to beg “Honorable Marvin Cole.” I just received a threat again that if we file an appeal, we will be dealt with.

I’m wondering how many persons have been humiliated in his District, Bong County, and Liberia by the “Honorable”

And he even dedicated this as a victory for CDC and NPP. Frankly, I’m not a politician, and neither is my wife. Follow us well!

I HOPE THE VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES CAN BRAVE THE STORM AND DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THIS HUMILIATION AND GROSS MISUSE OF POWER.

Note: This should claim the attention of everyone! We will not apologize to “Honorable Cole for humiliating my wife, friends and me. We didn’t do it when the police threatened us to do it, we are not going to do it now.

This is especially for those that are conspiring against us. If you want to help, please stand against brutalizing any human. We are precious to God.

Again, our lawyers are doing things in the space of the law.

Thanks to all of you out there for the enormous support. We again look forward to your unflinching support.”