The Mayor of Monrovia and Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson T. Koijee, has revealed that he has notified his lawyers, at home and abroad, to pursue a lawsuit against the Executive Director of the International Justice Group (IJG) and erstwhile Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Cllr. Jerome Verdier, in order to bring to an end what he described as repeated, unprovoked, groundless and cruel attacks on his character.
Koijee said on February 23, 2023, on Spoon Talk (a phone-in show) and other networks Cllr. Verdier, without any facts and information available to him, launched a vile attack on his person for no explained reason. “Moreover, he maliciously lied that Varlee Telleh, an ex-combatant, under my instructions participated in an unfortunate armed robbery at the home of Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, former Chief Justice of Liberia,” he stated in a letter addressed to Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, Minister of Justice, dated February 27, 2023.
According to the CDC SG, Verdier wrongly informed the public that Telleh is the Deputy Director for Operations of the Monrovia City Police, City Government of Monrovia, describing the information as baseless and unfounded.
He stated that this is not the first time that Cllr. Verdier has spewed out such a spiteful statement or remarks on his character for reasons best known to him, vividly recalling that Cllr. Verdier misinformed the public that he was a participant of the Liberian civil war as a child solider, which he said was disproved.
In his letter to Justice Minister Dean, Mayor Koijee said, “Honorable Minister, I would like to be categorical that Varlee Telleh is a Patrolman of the Monrovia City Police and not Deputy for Operations as fallaciously stated by Cllr. Verdier. Mr. Telleh is a current lecturer of the Masjid Tahalele Mosque, a renowned Muslim school in Brewerville with an enrollment of over 200 students, where he is also an Imam and has been making impactful contributions to our society.
“Additionally, I wish to inform you that Mr. Telleh is currently in Liberia and duly employed with us at the City Government, and as you deem fit or the police, I commit to having him turned over to your good office for investigation, as we all look forward to finding the perpetrators of the crime against the former Chief Justice and the state.
“In view of the wanton claims by Cllr. Verdier, I have notified my lawyers, both at home and abroad, to pursue a lawsuit against him to ascertain the truth in order to bring to an end these repeated, unprovoked, groundless and cruel attacks on my character,” Koijee’s communication read.
