Monrovia — The President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has debunked reports it orchestrated the removal of Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi as executive director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
Several members of the Liberia National Bar Association have voiced their deep disappointment following the association's leadership endorsement of a campaign that resulted in President Joseph Boakai's withdrawal of Jonathan T. Massaquoi as the Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
The members described the leadership's action as a "betrayal" of the association's core principles and values, stressing that the LNBA should have supported Massaquoi, a fellow member.
The LNBA President Cllr. Sylvester Rennie had claimed that President Boakai's decision broke with a longstanding tradition in the judiciary by appointing officials, including Massaquoi, without subjecting them to a vetting process by the Bar.
Cllr. Rennie criticized this move as a significant departure from the tradition of the executive branch consulting the Liberian legal community on such judicial appointments.
"The tradition is that, where there are positions within the judicial or justice sectors, the Bar is normally consulted to conduct a vetting process because we know our lawyers," Rennie said. Despite Massaquoi being a lawyer and a member of the LNBA, Rennie emphasized that the Bar should have been involved in the vetting process.
Cllr. Rennie further stated, "We know their capacities. We do the vetting and then send a shortlist to you. Although the 1986 Constitution gives President Boakai the authority to make nominations, Rennie pointed out that the Bar had drafted the bill to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court and presented it to the Legislature in 2021."
"The Bar's role has not changed in its quest for the formation of war and economic crimes courts for Liberia," Rennie added.
Continuing, Cllr. Rennie added, "The Bar will work with all lawyers. But the Bar remains an organization that respects itself and must be respected by everyone, just as our international partners respect us."
For his part, the former LNBA President Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe has also condemned the process that led to Massaquoi's appointment.
"There should have been wider consultations with civil society, victims, and the Bar," Gongloe stated.
"It is the first time in our history that we have done this, so it really matters. It has nothing to do with presidential authority or his qualifications. We require the support of the wider society. Conversations with civil society were not held. It's shocking. In the end, it's the victims who need to feel closure on this", Cllr. Gongloe asserted.
Cllr. Gongloe stated that if the appointment was not embraced by victims, it could lead to future conflicts.
At the same time, Cllr. Rennie and Cllr. Gongloe has cited several reasons for their opposition to Massaquoi's appointment, including concerns over his previous representation of Agnes Taylor, the wife of convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor, and other individuals involved in war and economic crimes in Liberia.
However, the aggrieved LNBA members denounced the actions of Cllr. Rennie and Cllr. Gongloe, characterizing them as a "betrayal" and a departure from the "core values" upon which the association was founded.
They claimed that the association had "dramatically changed" and was no longer the "champion of the constitution" it once was.
Meanwhile, FPA gathered reports, which have not been independently verified, that the LNBA initially lobbied with President Boakai to nominate its National Secretary General, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, instead of Massaquoi.
When contacted for comment, Cllr. Sylvester Rennie dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
"It is very cheap to say that," Cllr. Rennie debunked, referring to the accusations that he opposed Massaquoi's appointment.
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He noted that the Free Press Association had previously reported on the criticisms of Massaquoi's appointment by Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe and Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier.
Cllr. Rennie claimed that the LNBA had several meetings with international partners who questioned whether President Boakai had consulted the LNBA regarding the formation of the War Crimes Court.
"We never had any input," Cllr. Rennie stated, adding that the LNBA continues to insist that it must be consulted on such important matters.
Cllr. Rennie, however, expressed frustration over the situation, saying, "I must lie to say I see President Boakai when I did not see Boakai. If he considers that, that is his business."
He reiterated that the LNBA had no input in the decision and emphasized the need for the Bar to be involved in judicial appointments, referencing the recent appointment of Associate Justice Ceaineh Clinton Johnson as an example of proper procedure.
