Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
Monrovia – The husband of Liberian journalist Bettie K Johnson-Mbayo, of Frontpage Africa, Moses S. Mbayo has alarmed that he is deeply concerned over death threat reportedly hauled at his wife of three years allegedly by a Liberian lawyer, Charles Abdullai.
Frontpage Africa, one of Liberia’s leading local dailies, reported recently that journalist Johnson-Mbayo now feels insecure; fearing for her life and the lives of her children, having received death threats allegedly from Councilor Charles Abdullai.
The paper quoting Madam Johnson-Mbayo reported that she received a cellular phone call from telephone number 0881790190 asking if it was Bettie of FrontPage Africa, and when the reporter answered in the affirmative, the caller was later heard saying, “If you don’t stop writing on my client, you will be assassinated from now to September 15.”
Few minutes after the first call, according to the newspaper, the journalist received another call, but this time on a different phone number, 0777 519 212, informing her that if she fails to slow down her reportage on his (Charles Abdullai) client, one of her children would be kidnapped.
FrontPageAfrica further reports that it later traced the last cell phone number allegedly used by the lawyer to have threatened its employee to Cllr. Charles Abdullai, and when contacted by the management of the news outlet, the lawyer admitted calling journalist Johnson-Mbayo and uttering threats but claimed he was only hauling a prank at her.
“But our reporter insists she and Cllr. Abdullai have never engaged in such a joke, and that she finds it awkward that he would choose to joke with her in such a manner.” Frontpage Africa reported.
Howbeit, journalist Johnson-Mbayo’s husband, a medical practitioner employed as Biology Lab Instructor at the Methodist church-run United Methodist University, says he and members of his family are concerned about the death threat on the life of his wife and a threat of kidnap issued against one of their three children.
He termed the lawyer’s reason for the issuance of the death threat against his wife and the threat of kidnap against one of their kids as a joke, as being an act of total gross unprofessionalism on the part of Cllr. Abdullai, saying, “Our security is at stake, and we are calling for the immediate investigation by the Liberian National Police, Justice Ministry, National Security Agency, Liberia National Bar Association and other appropriate authorities including the international community.”
“We are not going to keep mute especially when the lives of our innocent children are at risk,” Mr. Mbayo stressed, adding, his family awaits the outcome of investigation reportedly being conducted by the LNP and the parent-body of lawyers in the country, the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), before proceeding with any court action for legal redress.
