THE ELLEN CORKRUM accusation against Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Cllr. Bobby Livingstone and Ofori Diah of alleged ritualistic killings has found expansion in the horizon of the human rights community, with Cllr. T. Dempster Brown, head of the Independent National Human Right Commission (INHRC), alleging that several women and children have gone missing between the period of July and September this year, and therefore called an independent investigation of claims of the involvement of some personalities in ritualistic activities in the country.
CLLR. BROWN, REFERRING to Ellen Corkrum’s allegation, stated, “Madam Cockrum said, with Diah as a point of contact, the accused officials have been using the hands of virgin girls for rituals that will ensure that they are appointed to strategic offices in government,” the INCHR boss added.
IN A LEAKED audio, Cockrum is heard saying she has been informed by Ofori Diah that he (Diah) is the middleman for the Solicitor-General, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and President George M. Weah in killing virgin girls for ritualistic purposes, and was therefore seeking similar assistance to avoid answering to her crimes committed in the United States.
BUT THE OFFICE of the Solicitor General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, has responded strongly to the swell of the allegation. Cllr. Cephus said he is taken aback not just by the desperation of Cllr. Brown to join Ellen Cockrum and others in creating a false climate of fear, blatant lies and misinformation about the government and other prominent Liberians, but by the fact that a senior lawyer of his stature and standing, who should be a good example of a responsible and credible lawyer and should address issues based on evidence, has strangely allowed himself to be drafted into the politics of recrimination against the Government of Liberia (GOL).
THE ACCUSED SOLICITOR General reminded Chairman Brown to beware of the responsible role the commission has to play in building and protecting democracy and the rule of law, and called on the Chairman to behave responsibly in order not to bring the integrity of the Commission into disrepute. He described as utterly shameful and totally unacceptable Cllr. Brown, of all persons, who should perform beyond reproach as a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Bar, choosing to give credence to such wild and sweeping allegations that are not supported by any factual evidence.
“THE OFFICE OF the Solicitor-General categorically rejects as totally baseless and unfounded the allegations by Cllr. Brown and his benefactors, and calls on Cllr. Brown as head of a responsible institution to be responsible enough by providing evidence of the disappearance of people to the Ministry of Justice for immediate investigation and subsequent prosecution,” Cllr. Cephus sternly stated.