The debate over Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) has intensified, with Dr. Jallah Barbu, Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC L), launching a strong rebuttal against Cllr. Dempster Brown, Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR).
Dr. Barbu described Brown as “a complete embarrassment to the legal profession,” accusing him of lacking a clear understanding of the Executive Orders issued by President Joseph Boakai that established OWECC L. According to Barbu, the office is legally empowered to decentralize its activities thereby reaching out to victims and survivor and not collecting evidence as claim by Brown.
By this, the OWECC-L boss said has informed the creation of regional offices, to ensure the court’s eventual effectiveness across Liberia.
Brown had earlier accused Barbu of misapplying government funds by creating regional offices before the court was formally established, arguing that such actions were premature and amounted to wasteful spending. “The creation of regional offices is a misapplication of government funds,” Brown said, insisting that OWECC L should be held accountable for its spending. He maintained that Liberia’s fragile justice process could be derailed by mismanagement and questioned the legality of Barbu’s actions.
Appearing on a local radio station Monday, Barbu questioned Brown’s understanding of the process leading to the creation of the two courts, accusing him of masquerading as a lawyer despite not being licensed to practice law. Barbu dismissed Brown’s remarks as baseless and far from legal reasoning, emphasizing that the Executive Order clearly outlines OWECC L’s mandate, which includes expansion of activities and mobilizing victims and survivors in their respective localities to make the process inclusive.
“The regional offices are not wasteful spending; they are essential to bring justice closer to the people,” Barbu said. He argued that victims and survivor outside Monrovia must have access to the process, and decentralization is critical for credibility and inclusiveness. Barbu accused Brown of misleading the public, further stating that those who fail to understand the Executive Order should not misinform Liberians, adding that resistance to the court often comes from individuals fearful of accountability.
