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| Fired Magistrate Files Impeachment Against Chief Justice, Justice Wolokilie |
| Published on July 14, 2010 | Email To Friend Print Version
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By Marcus Zoleh
A petition seeking for the impeachment of Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis and Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie has surfaced at the National Legislature.
The former Stipendiary Magistrate of the Bensonville Magisterial Court, Peter T.K. Gonsahn, in his petition for the bill of impeachment submitted to the House of Representative cited as “unlawful and unconstitutional”, the behaviors of the two senior judicial officials regarding his removal.
“Honorable Speaker and Member of the House of Representative, I have the painful duty to invite your official attention to the continue unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and wrongful attitude of the Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis, Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie and the Comptroller John Sackor for which I am kindly appealing to you to order a bill of impeachment against the three senior judicial officials of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia mentioned above.” Magistrate Gonsahn noted.
The Former Bensonville Magistrate contended in his petition that the Chief Justice and Justice Wolokollie “unlawfully and illegally” recommended his removal from office by President Sirleaf.
According to Magistrate Gonsahn, a complaint was filed against him by Mr. David Padmore and Mr. Miatta Padmore to the Chief Justice who later ordered the Chairperson of the Judicial Inquiry Commission, Jamesetta H. Wolokollie, to probe into the matter.
Petitioner Gonsahn stated that he wrote a six-count motion to the Judiciary Inquiry Commission to dismiss said compliant filed against him on grounds that the commission had no jurisdiction over the matter.
He said all complaints filed against Justices of the Peace and Magistrates are legally trialable before circuit courts in keeping with Rules 33 and 24 of the rules governing circuits and judiciary laws of Liberia.
He also alleged that Chief Justice Lewis and the Comptroller are involved in 'discriminative' corruption within the Judiciary, which he (Gonsahn) is a victim.
“Honorable Speaker and Members of the House of Representative, I regret to officially inform you that the Chief Justice and the Financial Comptroller unlawfully and deceitfully connived and paid me the monthly salary of L$8,500 and US$232 allowance, while some magistrates in Montserrado County receive the monthly salary of L$10,000 and US$1,000 allowances respectively.
Magistrate Gonsahn also cited Articles 20, 43 and 18 of the Constitution of Liberia, Section 13.4 (2) of Liberia Codes Revised, Volume 4, page -145 entitled 'Judiciary lay', Section 11.2 of 1 LCLR page-11, section 15.56 and 17.3 of the new penal law of Liberia as his reliance for which he wants the senior judicial officials impeached.
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