The NEWS (Monrovia)

Liberia: 'Resign Or Be Impeached - Rights Campaigner Demands Chief Justice

Human rights advocate, Melvin Page is calling for the immediate resignation of Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis to avoid impeachment.

Mr. Page told Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis in a letter last week that he (Justice Lewis) has violated the Liberian Constitution using the name of the President as a cover up to carryout such illegal act.

Mr. Page, a controversial human rights advocate, has requested Justice Lewis to make public the letter given him by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ordering the suspension of Circuit Court Judge James Zotaa.

He disclosed that all is being done to ensure that Justice Lewis is impeached if he fails to resign.

However, Mr. Page indicated that the Chief Justice had since failed to produce a copy of the President's letter.

He stressed the need for the public to be informed as to whether Madam Sirleaf control or dictates decision in the Judiciary.

Recently Chief Justice Lewis suspended Criminal Court "A" Judge James Zotaa on orders of President Sirleaf.

Judge Zotaa's suspension was based on a complaint filed by Magistrate Milton Taylor of the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice.

But Judge Zotaa in a reply to the Chief Justice said he was finding it difficult to concede that the President of Liberia, who has championed the cause of good governance in the country, would ordered his suspension without hearing.

Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis later rescinded his decision and reinstated the Circuit Court Judge.


Copyright © 2006 The NEWS. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments Post a comment