This decision, according to the Executive Mansion, reflects “a broader vision of rehabilitation and redemption, emphasizing the need for second chances within a fair and humane justice system.

”The decision, rooted in Chapter 6, Article 59 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, was the result of a detailed review process ensuring fairness and accountability. The selection criteria were designed to prioritize inmates demonstrating potential for reintegration, including: Those who have served over half their sentences, individuals detained beyond their sentence due to minor unpaid restitution obligations and Elderly inmates or those suffering from terminal illnesses.

Only individuals with commendable conduct during incarceration were considered, while individuals convicted of capital offenses or serious felonies were excluded, a statement from the Executive Mansion revealed.

Among those granted clemency were 37 Liberian nationals and one foreign national from China, comprising 37 men and one woman. All were convicted of non-capital, non-sexual offenses. More than half of these individuals were held at Monrovia Central Prison, with others spread across facilities nationwide.

The statement added that the clemency initiative underscores President Boakai’s belief in the transformative power of rehabilitation and the societal benefits of giving individuals a chance to rebuild their lives. It aligns with a broader commitment to strengthening the country’s justice system to be more equitable, inclusive, and reflective of human values.Commenting on the decision, President Boakai stated “By extending clemency, we affirm the belief that individuals can be redeemed and contribute positively to society. A justice system that fosters rehabilitation is one that strengthens the nation.

“The clemency process involved close collaboration between the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, and other stakeholders. This partnership ensured a meticulous and equitable review process, reflecting Liberia’s commitment to fairness and the rule of law.

This initiative serves as a powerful message about the value of justice paired with mercy. By prioritizing rehabilitation, the government demonstrates its dedication to creating opportunities for those who have paid their debt to society.

As Liberia moves forward, this clemency act is a significant milestone in the ongoing journey to build a justice system that is not only firm but also compassionate, offering hope and second chances to deserving individuals.

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The appointment comes following a vetting process carried out by a committee made of Civil Society Organizations, the Liberia Council of Churches among others that was constituted by the President.

 The President dissolved the Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi leadership following criticisms that his appointment did not seek the input of CSOs including Human Rights Organizations.

Liberian Civil Society Organizations also frowned at Cllr. Massaquoi’s appointment due to his previous role as Defense Lawyer for warlords accused of committing atrocities during the civil war in Liberia.

Addressing Executive Mansion Reporters on Friday, November 1, 2024, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana said the appointment takes immediate effect.

“The Executive Order which established the office of War and Economic Crimes Court does not require Senate Confirmation, so Cllr. Barbu will start from where the Previous Team stop” the Press Secretary.

The Office of War and Economic Crimes Court which is within the Ministry of Justice was created by an Executive Order to lead the process towards the establishment of the War and Economic crimes court to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and Economic Crimes from 1979 to 2003.

Liberia’s 14 years of bloody Civil War which claimed the lives of an estimated 250,000 people and injured many more ended two decades ago but no perpetrator has been held to account here in Liberia. 

The Mansion in a statement said “The President expressed full confidence that Cllr. Barbu will carry out this vital role with unwavering dedication, a commitment to justice, and loyalty to the state.”

Cllr. Barbu also served as Head of the Law Reform Commission which was established in 2011 by an Act of Legislation to keep the laws of Liberia, ensure the systematic development and reform including unification and codification of the laws.

The post President Boakai Appoints New Head at Liberia Office of War Crimes Court first appeared on OK FM.

A historic vote in support of the victims of the Civil War was marked by the resolution, which was signed by 40 out of 73 House members. Strangely, every member of Nimba County, the home of the erstwhile warlord Prince Johnson, voted against the resolution, with the exception of Taa Wongbe. Musa Bility, a businessman and recent county seat winner, did not vote.

The resolution requests that President Joseph Boakai collaborate with the UN, foreign partners, institutions, and civil society groups to help Liberia establish the Extraordinary Criminal Court in a way that will enable the prosecution of transnational crimes in conformity with international norms and best practices.

The resolution acknowledges that the civil wars that raged in Liberia between 1989 and 2003 caused death and destruction throughout the country, forcing nearly half of the population to flee their homes. Horrible abuses such as summary executions, massacres, rape and other sexual assaults, mutilation, torture, and the use of child soldiers are also mentioned.

The resolution further reminds us that Article XIII of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Liberia and the United States, which was signed on August 18, 2003, calls for the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to serve as a forum for discussing impunity and to give both victims and offenders of human rights violations a chance to share their experiences and gain a clear understanding of the past in order to promote real healing and reconciliation.

The resolution states that in order to formally establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) and to investigate grave human rights violations, violations of humanitarian law, sexual offenses, and economic crimes that took place between January 1979 and October 2003, the Liberian legislature passed the Act to Establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC ACT) in 2005.

Furthermore, the resolution mentions that on December 19, 2009, the Liberian TRC delivered its final report to the National Legislature, suggesting the creation of an Extraordinary Criminal Court of Liberia, an international domestic court with the power to bring criminal charges against anyone suspected of grave human rights violations, serious violations of humanitarian laws, and specific domestic crimes.

All recommendations shall be implemented, and where the implementation of any recommendation has not been complied with, the Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause for such non-compliance. These are the provisions stated in Section 48 of the TRC Act, which the resolution states. The Head of State shall report to the National Legislature regarding the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations within three months of receipt of the TRC report, and on a quarterly basis thereafter.

The resolution so declares that, in spite of being required to do so by the TRC Act, the government of Liberia has not yet completely carried out the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including the creation of an extraordinary criminal court for Liberia.

The resolution also bemoans the fact that, between 1989 and 2003, while Liberia was embroiled in armed conflicts, not a single individual was tried for serious crimes. The resolution states that the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concerns in July 2018 about Liberia, stating that “none of the alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations and crimes mentioned in the TRC report have been brought to justice.” Liberia was urged to establish a process to bring about accountability for past crimes and report back on the issue of impunity and accountability for crimes eradicating civil wars by 2020. “Whereas the United Nations (UN) and other international partners have experience with the creation and functioning of war crimes courts, including courts with international and domestic participation and expertise,” the resolution states.

With a majority vote on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the Lower House decided to endorse the TRC’s recommendations in their entirety, especially the creation of an extraordinary criminal court in Liberia, and to cooperate with President Joseph Nyumah Boakai in this regard.

The post Members of Lower House of Legislature Adopts War and Economic Crimes Court Resolution first appeared on OK FM.

According to the EPS, on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Mr. Yeke stranded the weapon to the service through Cllr. Archie Benard at the EPS headquarters on Capitol Hill.

The EPS noted that the action taken against Mr. Yeke was due to his refusal to return the gun after written communication to him by the new director in several communications.

The EPS stated that no president can authorize the director of the service to issue a government service weapon to a civilian. The EPS added that the director has no authority to issue service weapons to civilians who are not EPS agents.

Pursuant to the EPS Act, the president can authorize the director of the service to assign trained and armed agent to a protectee

The EPS reports that Mr. Yeke has fully complied and that the arrest bulletin has been rescinded

The post EPS Acknowledge Receipt of Yeke Gun first appeared on OK FM.

Monrovia, Liberia – A five-year strategy plan has been revealed by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh in an attempt to realign the court. On the official launch of the initiative, Chief Justice Yuoh spoke about the three main problems that the judiciary faces: inadequate funding, inadequate human resources, and inadequate infrastructure.

Justice Yuoh claims that she had a vision to fix the systemic flaws in the judiciary when she took over as head of the court in 2022.

She included the development of a new Supreme Court building, the establishment of judicial complexes across the nation, and the remodeling of twenty magistrate courts, including three tribunals for sexual offenses spread over three counties.

Justice Yuoh claims that when she took over as head of the judiciary in 2022, she developed a plan to solve the court’s structural flaws.

She mentioned the establishment of twenty magistrate courts, including the refurbishment of three sexual offenses courts spread over three counties, as well as the creation of a new Supreme Court building and judicial complexes across the nation.

The post Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh Suggests Building New Supreme Court Building and Judicial Complexes around Liberia first appeared on OK FM.

The LACC’s former head’s whole legal position has been restored, the court declared in its ruling.

In August 2021, the Supreme Court overturned the Liberia National Bar Association’s suspension of Councilor Nwabudike due to allegations that he is not a citizen of Liberia, making him ineligible to lead the LACC and practice law throughout the nation.

The high court additionally mandated that the Ministry of Justice take charge of the situation and look into Cllr. Nwabudike’s citizenship.

The petitioner requested reinstatement to the practice of law in the jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court convened to consider the request.

The post Cllr. Nwabudike free to practice law in Liberia, according to Supreme Court. first appeared on OK FM.

The NEC named Independent Candidate J. Clarence Banks of Grand Bassa County’s District #2 the winner of the general elections held on October 10, 2023. Following the announcement of the results, legislator Mary Karwor, who was defeated in Grand Bassa District #2, filed an appeal with the NEC Board of Commissioners.

In its ruling on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Supreme Court stated that mere allegations do not constitute proof, and unless the said allegation is supported by the evidence they shall remain mere allegations.

The verdict further said that in order for an election to be deemed illegal due to an electoral offence, the offence must be committed by the candidate or by a third party with the candidate’s knowledge and approval.

The Supreme Court has further mandated that the NEC proceed with accrediting Representative-elect J. Clarence Banks as the victor of the District 2, Grand Bassa County, representative seat.

To regain jurisdiction over the case, the clerk was directed to transmit a mandate to the NEC.

Reported by: Watson G. Richards

Contact: +231880381808

The post Supreme Court rejects Mary Karwor’s argument first appeared on OK FM.

According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, unsupported assertions are not proof; they remain unsubstantiated assertions.

The UP candidate running in Grand Bassa District #5 claimed that the Representative Records of Counts at two polling stations in the district had been altered and inconsistent. However, the candidate was unable to provide a representative record of the counts to support his claim; therefore, it cannot be upheld according to the court.

The High Court verdict stated that a recount of all the votes cast in Grand Bassa’s Electoral District #5 is necessary due to the fairness of the recount procedure and the close vote gap of forty-nine between the top two candidates.

The Supreme Court ordered the NEC to recount the votes cast in Electoral District 5, Grand Bassa County, and dismissed the UP candidate’s request for a rerun in two polling stations.

Reported by: Watson G. Richards

Contact: +231880381808

The post Supreme Court Decree recount in Grand Bassa Electoral District #5 first appeared on OK FM.

During the final judgment and sentencing hearing, Judge Roosevelt Willie noted that based on the evidence and circumstances surrounding the death of Charloe Musu, all facts pointed towards Counsel Scott and three other family members.

Judge Willie in a thirty-page document read the accounts of the thirty (30) witnesses that testified in the murder trial coping with evidence that was produced in court along with legal citations from both parties and Supreme Court opinion before coming up with the lifetime sentence.

After the sentencing of former Chief Justice Scott, one of the co-defendants Cllr. Scott’s lead lawyer Cllr. Jimmy Saah Bombo told judicial reporters that they have announced an appeal with the Supreme Court within the statutory period.

Cllr. Bombo further noted that they produced all of the evidence to set their clients free, noting that the prosecution failed to produce the intent of murder to hand down a guilty verdict.

For her part, the county Attorney of Montserrado County Alhaji Swaiho Seysay said all of the evidence that was produced in the murder trial of the late Charloe Musu pointed toward the four defendants.

Cllr. Seysay noted that the four defendants wilfully, purposefully, and intentionally killed Charlotte Musu with malice and criminal intent.

Reported by: Watson G. Richards

Contact: +231880381808

The post Three people, including Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, sentence to Life Imprisonment. first appeared on OK FM.

On Thursday, January 4, 2024, Judge Willie announced the date of the sentencing hearing and the trial’s final judgement. He also gave the probation officer instructions to investigate the four defendants and turn in their report by January 4, 2024, at the latest, following the closing arguments in the murder case involving former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott and three other family members on December 21, 2023.

On Thursday, January 4, 2024, Judge Willie told the court that, despite his instructions to the probation officer, the court has not received an investigative report from the probation officer as of today, since the twelve-member jury panel returned a majority guilty verdict against Councilman Scott and four other family members on December 21, 2023.

But according to Judge Willie, the probation officer told the court over the phone that the Ministry of Justice has not been able to allocate money for him and his staff to look into the four offenders since he received the order on December 27, 2023.

The presiding Judge of Court “A” implied that the Ministry of Justice, under the direction of Cllr. Frank Musu Dean, had disregarded his order in a disrespectful and discourteous manner.

In addition, he directed the court clerk to issue a writ of contempt against Justice Minister Cllr. Dean and the Director of Probation, requiring them to appear and provide justification for not being found in contempt of court.

On Tuesday, January 5, 2024, at 10:30 AM, the contempt hearing is scheduled to take place at the Temple of Justice.

At 9:00 AM on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, there will be a sentencing hearing and final verdict in the murder trial involving Gloria Musu Scott, the former Chief Justice, and three other families.

Reported by: Watson G. Richards

Contact: +231880381808

The post Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean faces a conundrum first appeared on OK FM.