MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Supreme Court Chambers-Justice Ceaineh Clinton-Johnson has ordered the immediate release of Peach H. Bility, the son of Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Bility, from the Monrovia Central Prison. The decision follows a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by Bility’s legal counsel, challenging Resident Circuit Judge A. Blamo Dixon’s decision to revoke his bond without cause.
Bility was arrested on March 24, 2024, by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on multiple charges, including the unlicensed possession and transportation of controlled substances. He had remained in detention since his arrest until he was granted bail on November 15, 2024, through a Criminal Appearance Insurance Bond approved by Judge Dixon.
According to Bility’s lawyers, the bail required him to report to the court once a week, a condition he allegedly followed until a February 25, 2025, hearing. During that session, Bility’s legal counsel was absent, prompting Judge Dixon to revoke the bond and order his detention.
In the petition to the Supreme Court, Bility’s legal team argued that the bond remained valid as it had never been challenged by the prosecution. They claimed his continued detention was unlawful and sought the court’s intervention to reverse Judge Dixon’s ruling.
Justice Clinton-Johnson, acting on the petition, ordered Judge Dixon to appear before her for a conference on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. She also directed that all further proceedings in the case be halted until after the conference and mandated Bility’s immediate release, restoring the conditions of his original bail.
The case has generated public debate due to the severity of the charges and concerns about judicial independence. Bility faces allegations under Liberia’s 2023 Anti-Drug Law, which include the possession of 21.4 grams of Kush, 500 grams of marijuana, and multiple firearms, including a single-barrel gun, an orange-colored firearm, and a black pistol. These offenses are classified as first-degree felonies and carry potential life imprisonment penalties.
Judge Dixon has faced criticism for granting bail despite the gravity of the charges, with allegations emerging that Representative Musa Bility used his political influence to secure his son’s release. Reports indicate that Wilfred J.S. Bangura, Chief of Staff to Representative Bility, acted as human surety to facilitate the bail process, raising further questions about political interference in the judiciary.
Social justice advocate Martin Kollie has condemned the handling of the case, describing it as emblematic of Liberia’s culture of impunity. “The law cannot only be for the poor and the weak,” Kollie said, echoing public frustration over perceived favoritism toward political elites.
