IPNews-Monrovia: Unimpeachable sources at the Monrovia City Court, has hinted IPNews that Lawyers representing the Press Union of Liberia-PUL have refused to accept a notice of Assignment issued yesterday by the assigned Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court ‘B’ of for Montserrado County, His Honor Rolan F. Dahn.

According to the information, Sheriffs of the Court on yesterday presented the notice of Assignment to both lawyers Bobby Livingstone and Augustine Fayiah , but both refused to accept the Notice of Assignment .

Legal pundits tell IPNews that the refusal of a lawyer to accept a Notice of Assignment as legal instrument warrants contempt which are usually accorded with a writ of arrest.

It may be recalled, the assigned Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court ‘B’ of for Montserrado County, His Honor Rolan F. Dahn, has issued a ‘Notice of Assignment’, to lawyers representing the leadership of the PRESS Union of Liberia-PUL and petitioners, to appear before it Thursday, November 21, 2019, at the hours of 2:00hrs, to hear arguments into the Bill of Information filed by some members of the PUL over the recent held controversial PUL Elections.

The court also reminded the parties to make their official returns on the date of the hearing.

But contrary to claims that both Cllr. Livingstone and Cllr. Faiyah, refused to accept the notice of Assignment submitted to them, Cllr. Livingstone stated that he was never met in person by Sheriffs to refuse such legal instrument but rather he was not at office when the Sheriff visited.

Cllr. Livingstone wonders why Sheriffs of the court go after him as an individual when the Notice of Assignment should have been served on the Law offices of Sannoh and Associates?

“Look, we do not practice law in such manner. This is a suit filed by a legal institution and whether I am there or not this case will reach its logical conclusion. So why are Sheriffs allegedly making returns that I refused a Notice of Assignment?”

“What is required, is the Sheriffs submits the Notice of Assignment to the institution and we will act accordingly, but to suggest that I refused a Notice of assignment is unfair and unacceptable.

It may be recalled, the court ‘Notice of Assignment’, issued on yesterday followed last weekend controversial elections held by the Press Union of Liberia leadership in accordance with its 2019 Elections committee headed by Jarlawah Tonpo.

It may also be recalled, the PUL 2019 Elections committee in an unprecedented fashion on Saturday, November 16, 2019, held elections for corps of officers against a Bill of Information filed by some members of the Union that the voters roll needed review and other conteding issues clear before the election.

But the leadership, disregarded the Bill of Information and proceeded with the elections which was bottcuted by Charles Coffey main challenger Octavin T. Williams, and team.

Saturday’s election  was unchallenged with incumbent Press Union President, Charles Coffey, out of a  total vote cot of 1, 172, registered voters,  receiving a total of 401, while his unchallenged opposition Octavin Williams received a total of 19 votes.

Interestingly, the TeamOctavinWilliams, had earlier announced a butt-cut  of the elections on grounds that the polls were illegal and unconstitutional, given that an ‘injunction and temporary restrain’ order was instituted by the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court ‘B’ of for Montserrado County, His Honor Rolan F. Dahn, which was anticipated to be respected under a democratic rule .

For the Vice Presidential category, incumbent Secretary General, Daniel Nyankonoh , received a total votes of 355, against his main unchallenged opponent Weemon J. Cole-Boyce, with 51 votes.

For Secretary General post, Musa Kanneh, a candidate of the Charles Coffey team, with a total  vote of 308,  emerged victorious against E.J. Nathaniel Daygobor, of the TeamOctavinWilliams, with a total votes of 96, even though he did not challenge or appear at the polling precinct .

In the category of Assistant Secretary General, Akoi M. Baysoh, Jr., of Liberty Radio, swept a total vote of 195, against Jutonu Y. Kolie, of the TeamOctavinWilliams, with 67, even though he had announced a butt-cut; while , Moses K. Garzeowu, Correspondent of the Voice of America to Liberia, received a total vote of 145.

Hypocritically, the polls had only one independent observer named Rev. Augustine S. Arkoi, uncle to the preferred winner of the Assistant Secretary General and spiritual leader to incumbent PUL President Charles Coffey.

Evidently, the Secretary of the 2019 Elections Committee, Miss Teetee C. Karneh, refused to sign the attestation note validating the elections result held on today.

It may be recorded , today’s PUL election followed a ‘Bill of Information’ submitted by petition earlier on yesterday, November, 15, 2019, seeking the CIVIL Law Court to uphold its earlier writ of Injunction and temporary restrain on the holding of the PUL Elections until concerns raised by petitioners into the publication and clean-up of the voters roll was conducted and other contending issues related to the 2019 Elections of the PUL were addressed in keeping with the PUL bylaws and constitution.

It may further be recalled, regardless of Friday’s reinforcement order by assigned Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court ‘B’ of for Montserrado County, His Honor Rolan F. Dahn, for an earlier  writ of Injunction and temporary restrain order on the conduct of the Press Union Elections, following a Bill of Information, the leadership of the PUL in conjunction with its 2019 Elections Committee conducted voting at the headquarters of the Press Union of Liberia.

Early on Saturday morning supporters of Charles Coffey, began forming cues in anticipation of voting which commenced at about 10:00A.M.

The defiance of the Court order on a Bill of Information by the leadership of the Press Union has since sent out unfavorable feelings across the country as the mirror and the leading catalyst for the substance of democracy.

Furthermore, the sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, of Montserrado County, a week ago placed a ‘notice of injunction and temporary restraining order’, on the much publicized election of the Press Union of Liberia.

The notice of injunction and temporary restraining order, directed to PUL president Charles B. Coffey, Daniel Nyankona, Secretary General, Jarlawah Tonpo, Chairman, PUL Elections Commission, and others acting and operating  under said authority, Judge Roland Dahn, assigned Circuit Judge, informed the pairs that they are restrained and enjoined from further proceeding to conduct the elections, until the court shall finally determine the petitioner’s request for cancellation of the ensuing PUL elections.

Judge Roland Dahn Injunction Order Stated: “You and all person or persons whomsoever acting directly or indirectly under your supervision or authority are hereby temporarily restrained and enjoined from further proceeding to conduct the elections of corps of officers of the Press Union of Liberia and other election-related activities thereto, until the court shall finally determine the petitioner’s petition which is now pending before it. Or until further notice from the court;

“And you are also notified of the petitioner’s petition for preliminary injunction and that you are hereby required to appear before this honorable court on or before the 19 day of November A.D. 2019. If this preliminary injunction should not be granted and a writ of injunction ordered issued against you.”

Interestingly, Six days thereafter, the same Civil Law court published the lifting of the temporary injunction placed on the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) election, with a ‘preliminary notice.

Minutes after the temporary lifting of the injunction, the Chairman of the PUL 2019 Election Committee, Jarlawah Tonpo, announced the holding of poll within two days (Saturday, November 16), contrary to the universal and democratic principles for administering elections and election related activities in which parties involved in the election process prior to the injunction are called back to set a new date and time for the holding of the elections as encouraged by every transparent electoral body. .

Tonpo, however, commended the PUL membership for respecting the rule of law and exercising restraint while the union’s legal team worked on lifting the injunction.

Minutes after the issuant of the notice by Jarlawah Tonpo, for the resumption of election activities, Team Octavin (supporters of Octavin Williams for PUL Presidency) swiftly responded in a strong worded press statement terming the unilateral call for the resumption of voters poll for the PUL election as a ‘glaring act of mischief which presents its naked desire to proceed with a fraudulent poll.”

According to team Octavin, there has been no judicial outcome of the case and that would necessitate a draw up of new date as insinuated by Tonpo and likes Charles Coffey.

TeamOctavinWilliams wonders why the 2019 PUL Election chairman, Jarlawah Tonpo, is spreading misinformation intended to cause confusion amongst journalists and plunge the Union into credibility crisis.

The Team Octavin Williams stated that ‘the information provided by Tonpo and the leadership excluding Octavin T. Williams for the resumption of election activities is contrary to a deliberate and selfish attempt to bring the integrity of the Judiciary into question and public disrepute.

They stated that the defendants in the case, including the very Election Committee have both filed their various responses to the lawsuit filed by petitioners, journalists Siebo Williams, Omecee Johnson, Sekou Sheriff and Samuel Hasay, which raises question to the limited understanding of the defendants to comprehend legal matters especially when the matter has been opened and hearing into the case are scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2019.

Team Octavin has, however, urged all members of the Press Union of Liberia to respect the rule of law and ignore the Election Commissioner Jarlawah Tonpo’s call for the holding of elections on tomorrow Saturday, November 16, 2019.

The petitioners bill of information stated that ‘while the subject matter of injunction and temporary restrain was placed on the holding of the PUL elections, with subsequent undecided ruling before the honorable court, the respondents (leadership of PUL), have  commenced the process of electioneering , by announcing the continuation of campaign activities and have therefore set tomorrow Saturday, November 16, as voting day, for the election of new corps of officers of the Press Union of Liberia.

Count two of the Bill of Information also states that ‘ that the respondents’ contrary to law as held by the court in the case Kpoto vs Kpoto marked in the LLR 34, the court heard the bill of information before proceeding with the temporary lifting of the injunction of proceedings.

Count three of the Bill of Information , informed His Honor Roland Dahn, that contrary to the granting of a ten days period by the respondents to file a reply to the petitioners, the respondent resistance proceedings are disrespectful to the mandate of the court which requires his attention.

Moving further, the Bill of Information, requested the assigned Judge to enjoin Respondents from further proceeding with the conduct of election for the Press Union of Liberia on Saturday, November 16, 2019, until the final determination into the issues in accordance with law.

Importantly, the petitioners Bill of Information furthermore reminded the Court that they are legitimate Associate member and full members of the Press Union of Liberia and are entitled to partake in a free, fair and transparent elections of the PUL where voter roll is free from fraud and other forms of misrepresentation, which the defendants were refusing and failing to ensure in cleaning the voters roll to pave way for a credible election for the watchdog body, the Press Union of Liberia.

The Bill of Information additionally, challenged the Charles Coffey administration to proof the contrary in a legal and constituted court.

Meanwhile, supporters of Charles Coffey main challenger, incumbent Vice President Octavin T. Williams has called on supporters to butt-cut the polls and respect the court order.

In the aftermath of the Elections held on Saturday, November 16, 2019, Charles Coffey main challenger, Vice President Octavin Williams, told IPNews that his campaign team is not moved by the illegal gathering and voting of Coffey and others on Saturday, because the team is full committed to ensuring a legal conclusion of the matter in court and not being disrespectful to the laws of the country .