The International Justice Group (IJG) has served a notice on the National Elections Commission (NEC), informing the election body about its intention to object to the candidature of individuals under designated sanctions by the US government and others to be named in the future from participating in the ensuing 2023 general and presidential elections or in any contest for public office. In this regard, the international group has requested that NEC notifies them at the point of application or nominations of any individual under US sanctions to enable them to proffer a timely objection to their candidacy, as their candidacy is against public policy and injurious to the public interest objectives of the state and the Liberian people.
Those whose nominations the IJG intends to object to are former Director of the Passport Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrew Wonplo; Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Cllr. Varney Sherman; former Solicitor General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus; former National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Bill Twehway; former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel F. McGill; and Nimba County Senator, Prince Y. Johnson, with a vacuum for anyone or entity that will be designated for sanctions in the future. The group requested that the NEC kindly provides them the notification at the time of nomination or application of these individuals so that a timely objection to them can be made.
The International Justice Group’s notice of intention was addressed to all the Commissioners of the NEC: Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Boakai A. Dukuly, Cllr. Teblah Reeves, Josephine Kou Gaye, Barsee Leo Kpangbai, Ernestine Morgan-Anwar and Floyd Oxley Sayor, and underscored that, “Although the Global Magnitsky Act Sanctions are not criminal convictions, it is a formal condemnation and rebuke of an individual who has been investigated by the US government and deemed to have sufficient evidence of corruption and/or human rights violations to justify a serious sanction. The US government, without any doubt, thoroughly investigates every allegation of corruption and/or human rights violation(s) before formally sanctioning anyone.”
But amidst concerns of the international ramification of electing sanctioned officials, the people of Margibi County recently petitioned sanctioned Nathaniel McGill for the Senate. There are also rumors that Bill Twehway intends to contest for the Senate in Rivercess County. This is in addition to the open secret that Cllr. Varney Sherman and Prince Y. Johnson may want to maintain their seats at the Senate, bringing to four the number of sanctioned individuals who may likely contest in the 2023 elections.
Their confidence to contest the elections could be stemmed from the Hot Pepper’s legal pundit’s opinion that Liberian laws only prohibit individuals convicted of criminal offenses from contesting public offices and, therefore, the NEC has no legal ground to deny their candidature, because they are not convicted for any crime by any court.
However, the IJG has argued that, as a result of the ties between the US and Liberia, the Government of Liberia (GOL) heavily relies on the financial and political support of the US government; as such, it seems inconceivable that a government official, either elected or appointed who has been sanctioned, would be eligible to engage in any government business with the US government.
The IJG is headed by Cllr. Jerome Verdier, Chairman of the erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission (NEC), a champion in advocating for Liberian war and economic criminals to have their days in court and for victims to be served justice. He is also a seasoned lawyer who has deep understanding of Liberian jurisprudence.
This could be the beginning of a whole legal battle at the NEC ahead of the elections, as followers of the sanctioned individuals may opt for legal interpretations of the law, even though their candidates are accused of trying to make their way into the National Legislature only to seek statutory protection from being prosecuted.