The Solicitor General of the Republic of Liberia, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, has come under attack by the Independent National Human Rights Commission (INHRC), headed by Cllr. T. Dempster Brown, accusing him and others of ritualistic killings amidst the disappearance of virgin girls between July and September 2021. The Commission’s attack on Cllr. Cephus comes just a few weeks after Ellen Corkrum levied similar allegation against him, Cllr. Bobby Livingstone and Ofori Diah.
However, the Office of the Solicitor-General and Chief Prosecutor has sharply reacted to the statement, describing as brazenly groundless and totally disgraceful the press statement attributed to the Chairman of the Independent Human Rights Commission (INCHR), Cllr. T. Dempster Browne, accusing him and other prominent Liberian citizens of ritualistic killings.
Cllr. Brown alleged that several women and children have been missing between the period of July and September this year, and therefore called an independent investigation of claims of the involvement of some personalities in ritualistic activities in the country.
“Madam Cockrum said, with Diah as a point of contact, the accused officials have been using the hands of virgin girls for rituals that will ensure that they are appointed to strategic offices in government,” the INCHR boss added.
“Cllr. Brown’s allegations are based on a rather fanciful, laughable and preposterously unfounded allegation, which is the figment of the imagination of Ellen Cockrum, a disgraced and indicted criminal. Always scrambling for national attention on the integrity and credibility of others, Ellen Cockrum, admittedly angered by an alleged seizure of her mother’s truck, has resorted to spewing out wild allegations and tantrums against individuals she believes to be responsible, including the Solicitor-General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, the Head of the Economic Crimes Services Division at the Ministry of Justice, Bobby Livingstone, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Honorable Nathaniel F. McGill, and His Excellency President George Manneh Weah,” the office of Cllr. Cephus reacted.
In a leaked audio, Cockrum is heard saying she has been informed by Ofori Diah that he (Diah) is the middleman for the Solicitor-General, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and President George M. Weah in killing virgin girls for ritualistic purposes, and was therefore seeking similar assistance to avoid answering to her crimes committed in the United States.
But the press release issued yesterday by the Solicitor General’s office says although Diah has publicly denied ever making such reckless and irresponsible allegations, Cllr. Brown has taken such hearsay statement as part of his official human rights report against the Solicitor-General, other prominent Liberian citizens and the Government of Liberia (GOL).
The release further described as utterly shameful and totally unacceptable Cllr. Brown of all persons, who should know better and should perform above reproach as a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Bar, taking to the airwaves and is using nothing but mere “hear say” allegations, especially of a condemned and depraved criminal, to tarnish the image of the Solicitor-General and thereby demonize the Government of Liberia (GOL).
The office of the Solicitor General says it is taken aback not just by the desperation of Cllr. Brown to join Ellen Cockrum and others in creating a false climate of fear, blatant lies and misinformation about the government, and other prominent Liberians, but by the fact that a senior lawyer of his stature and standing, who should be a good example of a responsible and credible lawyer and should address issues based on evidence, has strangely allowed himself to be drafted into the politics of recrimination against the Government of Liberia (GOL).
The release reminded Chairman Brown to beware of the responsible role the commission has to play in building and protecting democracy and the rule of law, and called on the Chairman to behave responsibly in order not to bring the integrity of the Commission into disrepute.
The release however described as utterly shameful and totally unacceptable Cllr. Brown, of all persons, who should perform beyond reproach as a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Bar, chosing to give credence to such wild and sweeping allegations that are not supported by any factual evidence.
“The office of the Solicitor-General categorically rejects as totally baseless and unfounded the allegations by Cllr. Brown and his benefactors, and calls on Cllr. Brown as head of a responsible institution to be responsible enough by providing evidence of the disappearance of people to the Ministry of Justice for immediate investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the release stated.
The release described Ellen Cockrum’s and Cllr. Browne’s campaign as the “work of the devil”, and emphasized that neither Ellen Cockrum nor Commissioner Brown has provided any proof to warrant even the most basic consideration of the “crazy” allegations made against the Solicitor-General and other distinguished Liberians, including His Excellency President George Manneh Weah.
Finally, the release called on Cllr. Brown to reexamine the role of the Commission and how important it is in building and protecting democracy and the rule of law, and called him to desist from making unnecessary and irresponsible statements for publicity purposes at the detriment of the reputation of other Liberians.