The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) is demanding that the Brewerville Magisterial Court servesjustice to Marie Nellon after Cllr. Johnny Momoh, a renowned lawyer and party to the case, admitting to the crimes of criminal cohesion and domestic violence when he testified in open court.
In a press release issued over the weekend, the CSNL said, “After a series of advocacies calling for justice for Madam Marie Nellon who was allegedly beaten, denigrated, and disgraced by Cllr. Johnny Momoh, we welcome the glaring admittance by Cllr. Momoh that he perpetrated violence against his fiancée, Madam Marie Nellon. Hence, we call on Magistrate Ernest Bana to expeditiously dispense justice in favor of Madam Marie Nellon.”
The Civil Society Network of Liberia recalled that Cllr. Johnny Momoh told the Grievance Committee that because his wife abandoned him he took on a concubine,and admitted to building a house for her. According to the group, he also admitted to putting Marie Nellon’s things outside on April 8, 2023 with threats on her life in reference to the disapproval from several prominent persons in society, including Chief Justice Sie Neh Youh, Supreme Court Administrator, Elizabeth BoyenounNelson, Associate Justice Yusuf Kabah and Yamie Quiqui Gbessay, his own brother Othello Payman and now Bomi County Senator Alex Tyler. “We are reliably informed that former President George Weah, Madam KatumuBoakai, now First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, and the Head of the Traditional Council, Chief Zarzar Karwor,all intervened to settle the case out of court, but Cllr. Johnny Momoh stubbornly refused. Cllr. Momoh vowed to remove Madam Marie Nellon from his house by any means even if it meant her death. On the day of the episode, Madam Nellon was not at home when her doors were broken into and things taken away with the help of his neighbor, Moses Miller of the YED Community, and even did a video recording of the incident,” the release observed.
“Interestingly, in Cllr. Momoh’s testimony on March 1, 2024 before His Honor, Magistrate Ernest Bana, at the Brewerville Magisterial Court, Cllr. Johnny Momoh admitted to having numerous girlfriends, including Davidetta Parker Sheriff, Bonita, Deborah and so many of them while in relationship with Madam Marie Nellon. We can then conclude that Cllr. Momoh’s acts of violence and emotional distress caused for Madam Nellon was due to the many concubines he had. On the issue that he invested thousands of dollars in Madam Nellon’s business, it is difficult to believe this, as Cllr. Momoh also told the court that he spent all his savings on two major surgeries to remove his tumor in the US. How then did he get money to finance an investment initiated by Madam Marie Nelon of more than US$2 million. The truth is, Madam Marie Nellon was a well-established businesswoman before Cllr. Momoh met her.
“The Civil Society Network of Liberia strongly believes that Cllr. Johnny Momoh’s admittance before his Honor, Magistrate Ernest Bana has clearly established the crimes of domestic violence, felonious restraint and criminal coercion against him. The admittance of Cllr. Johnny Momoh to the crimes against him in open court is a miraculous work of God, who has exposed his heartless character. Cllr. Momoh brought so much emotional, psychological and economic abuse and pain on Madam Marie Nellon. Therefore, this Liberian woman deserves justice. We believe that Cllr. Momoh has sensed his guilt, and must be made to pay for it. We call on Magistrate Ernest Bana to expeditiously dispense justice in favor of Marie Nellon,” the CSNL release added.
