By Bill W. Cooper
There continues to be lingering mixed reactions from the public as well as claims and counterclaims from within the governmental cycles since the jury’s its ‘not guilty’ verdict in the US$100 million narcotic drugs case.
Initially, the grand jury held Makki Ahmed Issam, Adulai Djalo, Malam Conte and a Liberian and Oliver Zayzay liable of shipping drugs worth US$100 million into the country and Criminal Court “C” was mandated to try all four men then defendants.
The case under the gavel of Judge A. Blamo Dixon, assigned judge of Criminal Court ‘A’, at the Temple of Justice was being tried on the charges of Money Laundering, Criminal Conspiracy, Unlicensed Possession and Importation of Uncontrolled Drugs.
However, following the jury’s decision, the head of the judicial system questioned the seriousness in the country’s fight against drugs and other harmful substance that continue to filter within the country and the region.
With the confusion already coming from the judicial actors, Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon yesterday pleaded with plenary to invite the Minister of Justice, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Director, the Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General for deeper insight regarding the trial.
Senate Dillon also pleaded with his colleagues to ensure that those individuals should be informed to appear along with other relevant state security authorities in connection with the referenced matter for appropriate legislative measures and or actions, where applicable and necessary.
Dillon’s communication concurred that the court’s verdict undermines the collective efforts to combat drugs and its damaging effects in the country as well as also renders the country’s fight against drug trafficking meaningless.
He said, “A week after said discovery, another consignment of dangerous drug at the monetary value of US$40 million was reportedly discovered and confiscated from the very business center and with this ruling, and if we as Senator don’t act now, I foresee more importation of drugs in Liberia.”
According to him, the country’s international partners and the world are watching with dismay and as such, like many of legislators, he is deeply concerned about the entire conduct of the trial and it is prudent that the Liberian Senate finds out what really transpired during the entire trial process.
He also reminded his colleagues that under Article 34 (b) of the country 1986 Constitution, the Legislature is granted the power and authority to “Provide security of the Republic” be it economic, health, public safety and or national security among others.
“Simply put, these acts are threats to our national security with potential threats to our existence as a country and people. So, it’s time, more than before, for we as elders of the land to act under the authority of Article 34 (b) of the Constitution because we have the duty to do so,” the Senator asserted.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dillon’s communication, through a motion from Lofa County Senator, Joseph Jallah was received and forwarded to the Senate Committees on Security and Judiciary with the mandate to report to plenary in a week.
The question that many legislative pundits are contending is whether the Liberian Senate can still act in a case that had reached its logical conclusion at the Judiciary owing to the fact that the Supreme Court and Legislature, according to the country’s 1986 Constitution are two separate branches of the Liberian government with distinct functions.
With the latest decision by the Criminal Court “C,” it remains unclear if the Senate can continue its investigation or take any action against those implicated, as some legal experts argued that the Senate’s inquiry could still proceed if it focuses on the alleged illegal activities of its members rather than the drug case itself.
Others then are of the belief that the Senate’s investigation is not timely and there is no need for such in that they are two separate branches of government with distinct functions, and that since the four defendants have been cleared off the charges, by what means is the Legislature unearthing the judgment.
