National security concerns have heightened following dissent from former Associate Justice Kabinah Ja’neh, who has accused the UP government of kidnapping his client.
Former Associate Justice Ja’neh is set to rally protesters over the mysterious disappearance of his client caused by subversion in his home country, Guinea.
This has intensified national security concern about the whereabouts of Guinea National Khalif Cherif, who was recently arrested by Liberian Joint Security personnel after being accused of planning subversive activities in his home country and escaping to Liberia.
Cherif was arrested and incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison after Liberian security personnel were alerted that he (Cherif) had entered the country from Guinea for safety and was allegedly recruiting ex-combatants in a bit to oust the Junta Government in Guinea.
This situation created a soaring relationship between the Government of Liberia and Guinea, which was accusing Liberia of supporting a group to oust its leadership.
However, Lawyer representing Cherif has raised concerns about his whereabouts, noting that Cherif’s current location is a mystery, as there is no information surrounding his current location as allegations have emerged that Cherif has been kidnapped and slew.
However, close sources from Guinea and Liberia have confirmed that the Guinean national, Cherif, who was arrested by Liberian Security personnel, was turned over to the authority of Guinea and that he is not a Liberian National, as speculated in the public.
Renowned Lawyer Ja’neh has also claimed that Cherif is a Liberian, and his client demands his location.
This suspicion from Ja’neh comes in the wake of the Government’s alleged refusal to release Khalif Cheriff, who he claimed is a Liberia-born Guinean.
As such, Cherif, who was arrested due to allegations of planning subversive activities against the Guinean Government, whereabouts is now a major concern of former Associate Justice Kabina Ja’neh, who has accused the UP government of kidnapping and promises to rally citizens to protest against what he terms as ‘total breakdown of law and order’.
Cherif was arrested by the Government when he escaped to Liberia for safety after being accused by the authority of Guinea of trying to overthrow a sitting government.
His arrest follows an accusation by Guinea authority that his presence in Liberia raised a security concern, alleging that the Liberian Government is allegedly trying to back him to carry out subversive activities in neighboring Guinea.
Regardless, Closed security personnel have informed FrobtPageAfrica that Cherif was recently turned over to the authority in Guinea.
Despite this information, Ja’neh has announced to rally citizens, including Guinean nationals residing in Liberia, to stage a major protest, raising national security concerns.
In his statement issued to the public, Ja’neh noted, “My client, Khalifa Charif (Sheriff), was born here, Crown Hill, Monrovia, unto two Liberian Mandingo parents. His grandfather was Imaam Alhaji Mata-Saykou, Sheriff of blessed memory, and he was one of the most respected Imam of the 50s and 60s of the Benson Street (Mas Jed) Mosque. As a nationally respected religious figure, Imaam Alhaji Mata-Saykou Sheriff’s funeral was attended here in Monrovia by President William V. S. Tubman to honor the Imaam’s invaluable contributions to nation building.”
He said that his client, Khalifa Charif, spent most of his early childhood in the Republic of Guinea due mainly to the Liberian civil conflict, which does not make him a Guinean national, as circulated by Liberian State Security officials.
According to Cllr. Ja’neh, Khalifa Charif’s House was raided more than six weeks ago. At that time, he was arrested, and his business money was seized by a joint team of police officers of the Liberia National Police and those of the National Security Agency.
He said officers of the Liberia National Police did not present a warrant during the raid and that to date, the officers who raided Mr. Charif’s premises under the instructions of the Inspector General of Police and the Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice have continued to defy court’s orders to bring to court all of the items seized, including cash and two vehicles.
Clr. Ja’neh further informed the media that early Sunday morning, November 3, between 3 and 4 A.M., the Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman, heading a team of security officers, bulldozed their way into the compound of the Monrovia Central Prison and, without any reference to the court, (which committed Mr. Charif), took Mr. Khalifa Charif away.
As such, the Former Associate Justice, Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh, one of the lawyers representing Cherif, is openly accusing the Inspector General of Police, Coleman, and the Solicitor General of Liberia, of “kidnapping”, which is a first-degree felony crime in Liberia.
Counselor Ja’neh also says that senior Liberian government National Security Actors ordered his client’s removal from Monrovia Central Prison. Verity News could not independently verify this claim.
This act, according to Clr. Ja’neh is a concrete demonstration of lawlessness under the Boakai Administration, and as such, Clr. Ja’neh has vowed to ensure that Mr. Charif is released as ordered by the court without any further delay.
The former Justice Minister says he will organize a public demonstration against National Security officers as the current administration does not respect court orders.
“The demonstration against police officers will continue, according to Cllr. Ja’neh, until the court’s orders releasing Mr. Charif are FULLY COMPLIED WITH,” Cllr. Ja’neh noted.
This latest pronouncement by Ja’neh has raised national security concerns over Guinea nationals living in Liberia and Liberians who will form. This is coming in the wake of heightened political tension in Liberia.
This paper has further gathered that since Ja’neh’s pronouncement, calling on all sectors to join the protest, there has been an influx of Guinea Nationals entering Liberia recently.
As such, some citizens have emphasized the need for security measures to be put in place amidst said pronouncement of protest concerning the whereabouts of Cherif, who was accused of carrying out subversive activities in neighboring Guinea.
BY: Willie Togbah, Contributor
