The opposition Movement for Progressive Change (MPC) has filed a “Writ of Prohibition” against Senator-elect, J. Brownie Samukai, and called on the Supreme Court to put a halt to his certification by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at the MPC headquarters, Chairman-emeritus, John D. Barlone, disclosed that the decision taken by the party’s executives is based on Samukai’s involvement in the misapplication of AFL funds during his tenure as former Defense Minister.
In his statement, he said the senator-elect has been indicted and convicted as an economic criminal through the final ruling of the Supreme Court, and that such a person lacks the moral and integrity to uphold public office.
In furtherance, he outlined several claims that prompted the decision of the party’s Executive Committee to write the Supreme Court, mentioning criminal facilitation, economic sabotage and misapplication of public funds as crimes that Samukai was found guilty of.
“You may have recalled that Mr. Brownie Samukai once pleaded guilty through the wisdom of the most powerful Supreme Court on all charges levied against him, and he was also mandated by the same court to restitute the sum of USD$1.4m within a grace period of six (6) months or one (1) year time, if not he might likely be sent to jail for at least two (2) years.
“So, in this manner, the Movement for Progressive Change remains firm and unbending in her action as an independent opposition party to flag this issue across the length and breadth of Liberia, because we believe it will serve as a deterrence or warning to all public officials in government,” John Barlone said.
According to him, if the matter filed to the Honorable Court does not yield fruit or be addressed properly, the party, through its executives, will react quickly in time.
He noted that the statement being released is also the official standpoint of the party through a joint resolution, signed by the Executive Committee, and that their decision is irreversible and uncompromised.
