Monrovia—Former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh has expressed frustration with the current ruling Unity Party (UP) government for failing to address the ECOWAS Court ruling regarding his impeachment. His statements, made during an appearance on the Spoon Show, highlight his disappointment over the government’s lack of communication and action following the court’s orders.
By:Jaheim [email protected]
Ja’neh was impeached by the 54th National Legislature in 2019 during President George Weah’s administration, a move that was widely criticized by opposition members, particularly from the Unity Party and Liberty Party, who labeled the proceedings as unlawful and politically motivated.
The Unity Party, at the time, denounced the impeachment as unconstitutional and expressed concerns that it undermined the independence of the judiciary.
In a statement, the Unity Party emphasized, “The impeachment of Associate Justice Ja’neh was unconstitutional, intended to undermine our democracy, and strengthen the dictatorship practiced by President Weah.”
They noted the deteriorating governance situation and the compromise of the judiciary as significant issues.
The ECOWAS Court ruled on November 10, 2020, that Liberia must either reinstate Ja’neh as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court or grant him retirement with full pension benefits. Additionally, the court ordered the payment of $200,000 to Ja’neh as reparation for moral prejudice suffered due to the violation of his rights. The Liberian government was given six months to comply with this ruling. It did not.
Despite the court’s clear directive, the Unity Party has been criticized for its inaction regarding the payment and restoration of Ja’neh’s benefits, even after previously being allied with him during the opposition phase of the Weah’s and administration.
“It’s disappointing that the Boakai-led government has not had the decency to even talk to me about the ECOWAS court’s ruling,” Ja’neh stated. “The judgment allows me to choose retirement, but they have not communicated with me regarding the compensation I was awarded or my plans moving forward.”
During the 2023 general elections, President Boakai leveraged Ja’neh’s case to highlight what he described as lawlessness in the Weah-led government, calling the impeachment unconstitutional. They promised to abide by the Ecowas’ court’s order when they came back to state power.
Also, Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, a supporter of Boakai, condemned Ja’neh’s impeachment as disgraceful, while former Liberty Party official Dillon threatened to leave the party if Senator Jonathan Kaipay, who voted in favor of the impeachment, was not expelled for defying the party’s position. Dillon argued that Kaipay’s actions contradicted the party’s stance against the impeachment process.
“We cannot institutionally condemn such a process as wrong and unconstitutional while having a party senator vote otherwise,” Dillon asserted.
