As Supreme Court Denies Motorcyclists Petition: STAND Threatens To Lead Mass Motorcyclists Protest
The Supreme Court has denied a petition filed by the National Kehkeh and Motorbike Riders Welfare and Advocacy Organization (NAKEMOR) seeking to revert government’s decision to restrict motorcyclists from plying major streets of Monrovia and Paynesville. The petition was rejected by the Justice in Chamber, Her Honor Ceainech D. Clinton-Johnson, on Friday, March 21, 2025.
NAKEMOR, represented by the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) advocacy group, led by Mulbah K. Morlu, argued that the government’s crackdown on motorcyclists was unjust. The petition challenged measures enforced by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and other security agencies under the Ministry of Justice. However, Justice Clinton-Johnson declined to issue a writ of prohibition in their favor.
Against this backdrop, STAND has condemned Justice Clinton-Johnson’s ruling, and threatened that it will, in the coming days, hold a major press conference with a cross-section of aggrieved Liberians to announce the date and time for mass protests aimed at shaking the nation’s “corrupt and decadent foundation” in demanding justice.
In a release issued over the weekend, the Executive Director of STAND, Mulbah K. Morlu, said, “While STAND acknowledges the ruling of the Justice in Chambers, who baselessly denied its request for a writ of prohibition against the LNP’s unlawful and discriminatory actions against motorcyclists, the Movement remains steadfast in its fight for justice. Hence, STAND and the people will not be deterred by the biased ruling of a Supreme Court Justice who, as a Boakai-appointed judge, is shamelessly executing the dictates of the Executive Branch.
“STAND finds it both appalling and cruel that Justice Clinton-Johnson would stoop so low as to betray the trust and confidence of not only bike and ‘Kehkeh’ riders but also thousands—possibly millions—of students, civil servants, marketers, police officers, and even military personnel who depend on these means of transportation for their daily activities in and beyond central Monrovia. The continuous pattern of injustice, now compounded by this latest decision from the Justice in Chambers, has stained the Supreme Court’s reputation, transforming it into a temple of injustice against the people.”
According to the release, “With this biased and politically driven ruling—clearly influenced and dictated by President Joseph Boakai—the Supreme Court of Liberia has effectively weaponized the Liberia National Police, enabling its continued campaign of violence and brutality against ordinary citizens.
Justice Clinton-Johnson’s decision offers disturbing confirmation of Police Deputy Director for Operations Nelson Freeman’s prior boasts and threats, made openly on the Supreme Court grounds even before the ruling, where he declared that he would ‘hit & kill’ bike riders who enter their so-called ‘No-go’ zone.
“Now that the Supreme Court, as the final arbiter of justice, has issued a ruling that infringes on fundamental rights and unjustly restricts the free movement of Liberian citizens, it is crucial to emphasize that the Court remains subservient to the Constitution of Liberia—the supreme law of the Republic to which all, including the Judiciary, are bound,” the release added.
STAND maintained, “In response to this blatant injustice and the on-going pattern of bias in Supreme Court rulings and judicial corruption that have denied justice to the poor, STAND will, in the coming days, hold a major press conference with a cross-section of aggrieved Liberians to announce the date and time for mass protests aimed at shaking the nation’s corrupt and decadent foundation in demanding justice, the rule of law, and good governance in Liberia.”