LIBERIA – The Resident Circuit Judge presiding in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County has formally issued a notice of assignment in the case involving the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
Judge J. Boima Kontoe, in the notice, informed parties to the controversy surrounding the PUL 2022 Congress that the action, Petition for Writ of Prohibition, is assigned for Thursday, 15 December 2022, at 12pm at the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.
The notice of assignment is geared toward the Reading of the Supreme Court’s Mandate as ordered by Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, Yussif D. Kaba, on 02 December 2022.
Justice Kaba had mandated Judge Kontoe to resume jurisdiction and proceed in keeping with law into the Action for Declaratory Judgement against the PUL administration and its relevant Committees on Membership, Congress, and Elections and Inauguration.
The Action for Declaratory Judgment along with a motion for Preliminary Injunction was filed by the National Campaign Management Team of Julius Kanubah for the PUL presidency.
In the petition, Team Kanubah argued against the conduct of the PUL 2022 elections because of several violations of the Union’s Constitution in relation to the Membership Register.
The violations, Team Kanubah insisted, amounted to acts of electoral fraud, because the PUL Full Membership Register (Voter Roll) was neither published on time nor disaggregated as required under Article 10 Section 7 of the PUL Constitution.
Further, the Full Membership Register (Voter Roll) was flooded with non-journalists and ineligible members (voters) including interns, cub reporters, criminals, and high school students.
Team Kanubah believes Judge Kontoe’s decision to assign the Reading of the Supreme Court’s Mandate for this Thursday is part of the process to ensure justice and electoral integrity in the PUL.
Therefore, supporters of Team Kanubah and PUL Members concerned about the problem of electoral fraud coupled with the ‘Midnight Voting’ are asked not to panic over any provocation.
Especially, the distractive attempt to impose an illegitimate leadership at the PUL by the electorally corrupt former administration of Charles Coffey, Daniel Nyakonah, Musa MB Kenneh, and Akoi Baysah must be ignored as the PUL is not a personal fiefdom of rogue elements.
Team Kanubah assures that it will work within the bounds of the laws to ensure the right thing is done for the PUL to have a legitimate leadership not tainted and made democratically irrelevant by electoral fraud, minority vote, and abuse of power.
Meanwhile, Team Kanubah calls on media and civil society stakeholders to stop sitting on the fence while the democratic values of the PUL are being dangerously damaged by Charles Coffey and Daniel Nyakonah along with their clique of enablers and desperate collaborators.
While respectful and appreciative, Team Kanubah is particularly troubled by the decision of the Independent Media Stakeholders Committee to recuse itself from further investigation into the PUL 2022 controversial Congress.
The recusal, in part, precipitated by the disgustingly entrenched scheming behavior of Coffey, further exposed the failure of leadership that the PUL has suffered in the last six years in light of the dearth of institutional constraints on the Union’s anti-democratic erstwhile elected officers.
Team Kanubah registers its thanks and commendation to the now recused leadership and membership of the Independent Media Stakeholders Committee, hoping that it will remain engaged with the PUL more meaningfully.
The Committee, as initially constituted by former President Coffey, consisted of Prof. Weade Kobbah-Boley, Chairperson; Kenneth Y. Best, Advisor; Mrs. Melissa Chea–Annan, Representing the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas; Martin Browne; A. Trokon Tarr; Euriahs Togar; Teah Doegmah; and Maureen Sieh.
Three other reputable media figures and senior leaders, in persons of Aaron Kollie, Elizabeth Hoff, and Lyndon Ponnie, were added to the Committee upon the nomination of Team Kanubah and the endorsement of the leadership and membership of the Committee.
It is extremely sad the Committee was undermined by Charles Coffey and his henchman Daniel Nyakonah because of their misguided plan to stage a fake inauguration ceremony despite the unresolved case of Declaratory Judgment pending before Judge Boima Kontoe.
In conclusion, Team Kanubah reassures its hundreds of supporters of its unwavering stance to reach a logical and legal conclusion of this matter, at the same time calling on them to continue their mature adherence to the rule of law.
