Monrovia – It is getting glaringly clear that the plans to impeach Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh from the Supreme Court Bench is gaining momentum as the heads of the House of Representatives and the Senate dropped hints about his removal during a major program held in the rotunda of the Capitol Building, Thursday, July 19, 2018.
Report by Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.com
According to unconfirmed reports, the reason behind Ja’neh’s removal is because he stands as an obstacle to the government of Liberia’s efforts to raise the needed revenue for development, specifically to the road funds believed to be in the tone of US$30 million.
In an attempt to assure Liberians about plans by the Government of Liberia to stabilize the country’s shaking economy, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Albert Chie, told the gathering that people obstructing the collection of legal government revenue for development purposes will be punished.
“Anyone who obstructs the collection of the road fund whether you in the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature, you will be punished,” he emphasized.
Like Pro-Temp Chie, House Speaker Bhofal Chambers called for partnership and coordination between the three branches of Government and promised not to compromise in the collecting of money to support the national budget.
Chambers: “We will not compromise in collecting money to support our budget. Don’t be caught in the web because we will be unforgiving whether you are a Justice of the Supreme Court, a Member of the Cabinet or a lawmaker.”
Like the two leading figures in the Legislature, President Weah assured Liberians that people holding and refusing to pay money owe the road fund will be made to pay and that negotiations are being held in that direction.
“We will ensure that everyone involved will pay the road fund no matter what. We have had meetings with people responsible; they will pay,” President Weah stressed.
In 2017, Srimex Oil and Gas Company of Mr. Musa Bility and Aminata and Sons of Mr. Siaka Touré, against the Government of Liberia thru the Liberia Revenue Authority and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company filed a petition to place halt to storage fees charges of US$30₵ placed on the companies.
On December 11, 2017, in a petition for a Writ of Prohibition filed, Justice Ja’neh commanded the Supreme Court Marshal to notify the Government of Liberia, represented by then Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Boima Kamara, the Ministry of Public Works by and thru then Minister Gyude Moore and the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA) along with respondent Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) to show cause why the Petitioners Petition as prayed for should not be granted.
In the Writ of Prohibition, Justice Ja’neh also instructed the respondent (MFDP, LPRC, and MPW) to stay all further actions, and the parties are ordered to return to status quo ante.
