The Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander B. Cummings, has accused Benoni Urey, Political Leader of the All Liberian Party (ALP), of being used by President George M. Weah and his Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government to weaken the opposition bloc, in order to lighten his re-election come 2023. According to Cummings, only a unified opposition can defeat President Weah in 2023, and he remains undeterred and committed to making President Weah a one-term President.
The Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice, Judge Jomah S. Jallah, on Monday, January 3, 2022 issued a writ of arrest on Alexander B. Cummings, Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and a senior member of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP). Judge Jallah acted on a complaint filed by the Republic of Liberia, by and through the All Liberian Party by and through its National Chairman, Theodore Momo, which accuses Cummings of forgery and criminal conspiracy.
In the order to Captain Larry Gormoryor or his deputy, Judge Jallah said, “You are hereby commanded to arrest the living bodies of Alexander B. Cummings and others to be identified, defendants, and forthwith bring them before the Monrovia City Magisterial Court, Temple of Justice, to answer to the crime of forgery and criminal conspiracy, based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru All Liberian Party by and thru its National Chairman, Theodore Momo, plaintiff, in which it is substantially alleged as follow to wit:
“That during the period of May, A.D. 2020 up to and including July, A.D. 2020, in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, the within named defendant, being there and then in violation of Section 15.70 of the New Penal Law of Liberia, purposely connived, conspired and jointly did alter the framework document of the CPP, thus deceiving the private prosecutor and the public regarding the content and averments of the said document, specifically the period a party may exit from the CPP, which was unresolved, but that the said defendants out of deception surreptitiously altered same, thereby making it to appear that the party has formerly resolved that issue and others appertaining thereto.”
According to the writ of arrest, the alleged act of the defendants, being unlawful, wicked, criminal, illegal and intentional, is in violation of Section 15.70 and 10.2 of the New Penal Law of Liberia.
However, speaking to the BBC Focus on Africa yesterday, Alexander B. Cummings said he had not received the writ, but only saw it published online by FrontPage Africa.
Cummings said, “I think the ALP has decided they want to leave the CPP, which of course is their right, and therefore I don’t understand the basis for these allegations—they’re unfounded, and I believe it’s all political and unfortunately I believe Mr. Urey is being used by the government, because a united opposition makes it more difficult for President Weah to replace himself.
“But this action will leave us undeterred. We are determined to run a political course to make a case to the Liberian people to make Mr. Weah a one-term President.”
When asked about the allegations contained in the writ, Cummings said he did not alter the framework document. “The document was reviewed and approved by all political parties, and so the allegations are completely unfounded, and I would say again that this is political. We are about 18 months to the next election, and this is all meant to discredit me, but there’s no basis, absolutely, in the allegations that are being made,” Cummings noted.
“Why would I alter a change of document that equally affects me as it does everybody else? This is why this is baseless and political, but when we actually receive the writ, as a legal law-abiding citizen, we will make ourselves available to whatever the process is per our lawyers’ recommendation,” Cummings underscored.