94-Yr-Old Witness ‘Cries’

-Calls For Help As She Takes Witness Stand In Justice Ja’neh’s Impeachment Proceeding

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

Dressed in a red and white blouse, red lapper and sitting in the seat of Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Edward Dagoseh in the chamber of the Liberian Senate was old lady Annie Constance taking the witness stand in the ongoing impeachment trial of Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh.

Associate Justice Ja’neh    

On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, during the trial, the lawyer representing the House of Representatives brought Mother Constance as one of the witnesses in the ongoing impeachment trial of Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh.

In her testimonies, mother Annie Constance said she has no idea on how her land was purchased by the Associate Justice from her son, saying “how can I be living and someone purchased my property from my son.”

“One big government man said he bought my property from my son I do not know about it. My people your help me let me get my land back; please, I am begging you people,” mother Constance cried and pleaded during her testimonies.

           94-yr-Old Annie Constance

She further added “how I will be living then you say you have bought my property from my son, how that one can happen?” she asked in a crying voice.

The ninety-four-year old woman recounted that it was during the Liberian civil crisis she fled the country and left behind the land deed, at which time her son took possession of it and sold the land to Associate Justice Ja’neh

She narrated that upon her return into the country, her son was already ill and as such; she had no time searching for her land documents, but to look after her ailing son, adding that she did not leave him ill.

Madam Constance clarified that though it was her own biological son, but she and her husband, the late Constance Sr. had to legitimize the child at age four because according to her, all of her other children had died and this was the only surviving one.

Continuing in a sad and sorrowful voice, Mother Constance indicated in the testimonies that upon her realization that her land has been sold by her son, she made all efforts in rebuying the land from Justice Ja’neh, but to no avail, something she said led to her engaging Montserrado County district eight Representative, Acarous Moses Gray to help her in the process.

Mother Annie Constance is the mother of the late Constance Jr. who sold the land to Associate Justice Ja’neh which is one of the counts proffered by the House of Representatives for the impeachment of Justice Ja’neh.

However, Chief Justice and presiding officer, Cllr. Francis Korkpor of the ongoing impeachment trial of Associate Justice Ja’neh has denied and dismissed petition by the defense counsel calling for the dismissal of the case against Associate Justice Ja’neh.

Chief Justice Korkpor said it is not within his powers to dismiss the case against Associate Justice Ja’neh, as he is only under constitutional mandate to preside over the trial.

Article 43 of the Liberian Constitution states among other things that “When the President, Vice President or an Associate Justice is to be tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; when the Chief Justice or a judge of a subordinate court of record is to be tried, the President of the Senate shall preside. When the President, Vice President or an Associate Justice is to be tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; when the Chief Justice or a judge of a subordinate court of record is to be tried, the President of the Senate shall preside.”

Meanwhile, the defense counsellors of Associate Justice Ja’neh are expected to produce their witness in person of Associate Justice Ja’neh provided he sure desire on Monday, March 18, 2019, that is according to the Chief Justice and presiding officer of the trial.   TNR