MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered the Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Bong County to resume jurisdiction over the case involving the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
The Court, in its ruling on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, also mandated the Judge to effect judgment in the case.
The mandate followed an earlier petition filed for Declaratory Judgment in October last year by Team Kanubah.
The High Court also ruled that the stay order on the induction of the PUL officers-elect remains enforced until a further determination is made into the Union’s electoral dispute.
Team Kanubah placed a stay order on the elections in Gbarnga, in Bong County, but that was later removed by Judge Boima Conto, leading to the holding of the elections.
At the same time, the Supreme Court has affirmed and ordered the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission to proceed with the certification of Prince Koinah as the winner of District-One, in Bong County.
Independent Candidate Wamah Kuteh of said district filed a complaint to the Board of Commissioners of the NEC over alleged fraud and irregularities.
However, the Court said:” Records established in this instant case produced no iota of proof of election irregularities and fraud as claimed by Complainant Kuteh.”
The Supreme Court also ruled that the Complainant failed to provide proof of fraud, but only made mere allegations.
In another development, the Supreme Court has ordered the National Elections Commission to proceed with the certification of Alex Tyler as the winner of the 2023 Senatorial Election in Bomi County.
In its ruling on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the Court said Complainant Zonbon Coleman and Ernest Moriba not being a political party of candidates, lack the capacity and standing to file a complaint without authorization from the candidate, Soko Adam Dorley, who they claimed to represent.
They also failed to file a Bill of Exceptions within seven days and to serve the declared winner, Alex Tyler, up to the hearing of the appeal before the Supreme Court.
The case grew out of a complaint of electoral fraud filed by the complainants at the tallying center for Bomi County but was denied and an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court.