The ongoing trial between the Alternative National Congress and the All Liberian Party seems to be far from reaching logical conclusion as the court has halted proceedings due to ‘administrative’ reasons.
Former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Unity Party Secretary-General Mohammed Ali were expected to appear in court as state witnesses to testify against Cummings and others who have continuously stated that they are being falsely excused.
Boakai and Ali though did not appear in court, they were said to have been placed in a secured location on the grounds of the Temple of Justice Monrovia City Court when Judge Jallah suspended the trial, pending notice of assignment.
Despite the Judge’s pronouncement, the courtyard witnessed a presence of the huge crowd chanting slogans against Solicitor General Syrenius Cephus created fear for which the trial could not be proceeded with.
However, on Tuesday, the proceedings on the allegation of Forgery and Criminal Conspiracy could not continue at the Monrovia City Court Magistrate as Judge Jomah Jallah suspension of the trial did not go down well with the defense counsels.
The defense’s legal team the prosecution’s attitude towards the trial thereby leaving the judge with no alternative but to suspend same as “total gangsterism” and a violation of the rights of the defendants only to delay the ongoing criminal proceeding.
“We want the world to know that because they have no evidence against Mr. Cummings and officials, they continue to implore delay tactics,” Atty. Lafayette Horatio Gould, a lawyer for the defendants stated.
Atty. Gould told judicial reporters that the abrupt suspension of the trial for fear that the courtyard was overcrowded was not a substantive reason to delay the proceeding.
According to him, the concern raised by the prosecution shows that they have no case, but are intending to play with the liberty of ‘lawful people” because “They are saying the court was too pack and the witnesses could not come to testify under such an atmosphere, what is this.?
Gould further notes that the accused has the right to a speedy trial and cannot be under criminal charges indefinitely therefore he expressed concern that the case is being prosecuted for five months which is beyond the statutory period of such a proceeding.
Gould believes that it is a clear violation of the rights of those accused and wants prosecution to show evidence and appear in court because according to the defense, for the government lawyers to say the courtroom is overcrowded is no reason to prevent Boakai and Ali from appearing to testify against Cummings.
At the same time, when quizzed about his position on negative slogans towards Cllr. Cephus, Gould maintained that it was the individuals’ right to express themselves without violence.
Meanwhile, Atty. Gould had termed the ongoing prosecution of Cummings, ANC Chairperson Daniel Naatehn, and the party’s Secretary-General Aloysius Toe as a “bogus trial.”
Solicitor General Cephus said that the court was unhealthy for the trial to continue because the scene was political and added that it had become risky for the trial to continue.
