Monrovia–Concerns have been raised over how a controversial Search and Seizure Warrant by the West Point Magisterial Court was sent out, after the magistrate, Jomah Jallah, denied having an idea of issuing the warrant.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [emailprotected]
This latest suspicion has ignited the decision of Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh, who has ordered an investigation into how the Search and Seizure Warrant went out to the Liberian Drugs Enforcement Agency.
Sources informed FrontPageAfrica that before initiating the investigation, Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh ordered the imprisonment of a bailiff and sheriff from the West Point Magisterial Court. The two court officers were allegedly involved in signing the search and seizure warrant used by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to raid the area surrounding the CDC headquarters.
The warrant was reportedly issued without the approval of the court’s presiding judge, Jomah Jallah.
They reportedly did it outside the approval of the presiding Judge of that court, Jomah Jallah.
Our source informed us the Chief Justice Yuoh was furious that West Point Magisterial Court has no jurisdiction over the areas being raided and that the decision of the two court staff to sign a Search and Seizure Warrant runs outside the law.
It is said the Monrovia City Court is the one clothed with the authority to issue said Search and Seizure Warrant and that the act of the two West Point Court Staff was criminal.
However, when contacted, the Director of Communication and Strategic Planning at the Judiciary, Dyrl Ambrose Nmah, said he was not aware of any decision of such.
Mr. Nmah noted that any decision of such would be documented by the court and not verbal.
Despite Nmah’s ignorance, FrontPageAfrica has gathered that the chief justice’s request was also centered on not only the headquarters of the CDC, but also a search and seizure warrant issued on the home of former President George M. Weah.
This contentious action by the court reportedly triggered a sporadic protest in Monrovia on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
As a result, Chief Justice Yuoh orderedCriminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie to launch an investigation into circ*mstances leading to the issuance of the controversial search and seizure warrant on the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
The Search and Seizure writ, which was allegedly issued by the West Point Magisterial Court, is undergoing a probe by Judge Willie for its legality and procedure.
During the investigative hearing on Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Temple of Justice, it was revealed that the writ was issued by an assistant clerk from the West Point Magisterial Court without the approval or knowledge of the court’s three magistrates and the city solicitor.
According to legal proceedings, before a writ of search and seizure is issued, there must be an application made by a party requesting for the writ accompanied by an affidavit that will be approved by the city solicitor.
However, the preliminary findings from the investigative hearing revealed there was no application and affidavit filed by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
The West Point Magisterial Court was represented by its three
Magistrates, led by the Stipendiary Magistrate Cllr. Jomah S. Jallah.
The magistrates “categorically rejected, objected, and denied any involvement in or knowledge of the writ, which allegedly targeted former President Weah’s home, along with the CDC Headquarters in Oldest Congo Town.
During the investigative hearing, the assistant clerk admitted to drafting and signing the writ, but claimed that the writ was not an authorized insurance.
He alleged that the writ was stolen from his desk by officers of the LDEA.
The clerk informed the court that LDEA did not meet the legal requirements to obtain such a writ in the absence of the application, the affidavit and the judge’s approval stamp.
The procedural abnormality surrounding the writ has raised serious public outcries.
According to legal proceedings in Liberia, applications for search and seizure writ must be submitted in court with proper documentation and approval.
The recent situation surrounding the insurance of the search and seizure writ is complicated by allegations that the city solicitor of West Point Magisterial Court, Moses Swion, was never informed about the writ’s issuance, despite being responsible for legal oversight in West Point.
The matter was suspended pending the outcome by Chief Justice Yuoh.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Clerk and the Bailiff who accompanied the search and seizure writ were immediately released from custody.
The probe is intended to seek clarity about the chain of events leading to the issuance of the writ and to address any procedural violations that led to the sporadic standoff on Thursday.
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