Barely two days to Senate’s leadership verdict report over a decision seeking the indulgence of plenary to probe Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darious Dillon over a reported incendiary assertions against colleagues; eight senators have signed a resolution owing to vote against any motion calling for suspension or expulsion of Dillon.
Last week, Lofa County Senator George T. Tengbeh complained Dillon for an investigation in which he outlined series of allegations for leadership to determine punishment in conformity with the Senate Standing Ruling and Constitution of Liberia.
In a resolution dated June 1, 2020 addressed to Senate Pro-temp and received by Senate record employee identified as Boakai J. Kamara dated June 2, 2020, eight senators names listed below; claimed that the letter written by Senator George Tengbeh and circulated during the 31-day sitting 3rd session of the Liberian Senate for an investigation of Dillon which letter was forwarded to leadership of the Liberian has wrong pattern and as such, they resolved and stated that Dillon is not under any probe.
The resolution signed by Senators Conmany B. Wesseh of River Gee, Sando Johnson of Bomi, Armah Z. Jallah of Gbarpolu , Stephen J.H. Zargo of Lofa, Daniel F. Naatehn of Gbarpolu, Nyonblee K. Lawrence , Oscar Cooper of Margibi and Henrique Tokpa of Bong Counties said; “ We will like to state clearly and emphatically, that as far as we are concerned and to our certain knowledge of Rule 23 of the Senate Rules, there is no complaint against Senator Dillon before the Senate, least to mention any ongoing investigation as is being speculated in the public.”
Rule 23 states, “Senator may be suspended or expelled from the Senate: when a petition signed by two third of the membership of the Senate, addressed to the Liberian Senate, against a senator is presented to the Secretary of the Senate. Same shall be forwarded to plenary session for consideration”.
“After the petition has been read and considered by the plenary, a vote of 2/3 majority of the total member of the senators dully seated shall determine the merit or non-merit of the petition.”
“In the event the senate believes that there is merit, a cross-sessional review team, comprising not less than three and not more than five senators, none of whom shall be a signatory to the petition, shall be constituted to investigate the matter, consistent with due process as provided for under the Liberian Constitution and report their findings and recommendations to the plenary within a period of 30 calendar days. All recommendations shall clearly indicate the extent and limits of action contemplated. The time to report may be extended by the plenary upon request of the review team, but the combined total time shall not exceed 60 days calendar days.”
(d)“The plenary shall debate the report and act upon recommendation. If the recommendation calls for suspension or removal from the Senate, a two thirds vote is required, Senate Standing Rules indicated.
But contrast to the Rule 23 as indicated by the petitioners, report says, the Lofa County Senator did not request for Dillon’s expulsion or suspension rather craved for the senate to probe his colleague.
Meanwhile, Senator Dillon has vowed to resist any extension of the State of Emergency-stating that the SoE was a risk the Liberian legislature unknowingly approved.
Speaking to the legislative reporters at the Capitol Hill, Dillon said as the SoE comes to an end; it is now time to annul.
“No need to extend the SoE. WE HAVE Public Health law. Let’s make use of the Public Health law because we are fighting health related issue,” Senator Dillon intimated.
“Under the Public Health law, there can still be lockdown; there can still be curfew,” Dillon said.
Besides that, the tough talking senator said the wave of SoE in Liberia is wrong. According to him, no country in the world is using SoE to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
He mentioned that Liberia needs to extend SoE because it is purposeless, and most repulsively, Liberia Solicitor General wants to implement the rights that were suspended as was clearly spelled out by the SoE.