‘Intimidation’

-Cllr. Johnson Describes LNBA Statement

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

Counselor Arthur Johnson has described as ‘intimidation’, the recent statement made by the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) on the ongoing impeachment process of Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh.

Speaking Thursday, August 30, 2018 when he appeared on the Prime Morning Drive (PMD) aired on Prime 105.5FM in central Monrovia, Cllr. Johnson said the action of the LNBA is a clear attempt to intimidate him as legal counselor representing the interest of Associate Justice Ja’neh

“I think this action by the Bar is an attempt to intimidate me and as a member of the Liberia National Bar, member of the European Criminal Bar and associate member of war crime court Bar, I am intending to write a formal complaint on this matter to the international actors that the body I am a member of, that this is an attempt to impede my effective expression and view on legal matters that affect this country,” Cllr. Johnson stressed.

Cllr. Johnson indicated that his recent statement on the impeachment process of the House of Representatives against Associate Justice Ja’neh was never a representation of the Bar neither as a member of the LNBA.

He further branded the action of the LNBA as a censorship of legal practitioner in the country, thus, he does not intend to fight the LNBA because according to him, he cannot fight the LNBA.

Counselor Johnson comments come a day after the LNBA issued a statement branding him as a gangster and describing his alleged text messages to criminal justice and legal practitioners in the country to stage a three-day go-slow as unethical and a violation of the code of ethics and professional conduct of lawyers in Liberia.

The Liberia National Bar Association in its statement issued Wednesday, August 29, 2018 labelled the conduct of Cllr. Johnson as an errant and misguided, adding that his action has rather placating the situation but rather escalating the crisis between the two branches of government.

“The leadership of the LNBA and many of its members are shocked and dismayed by counsellor Arthur Johnson’s call for many reasons, first and foremost of which is that he lacks the authority and thus the standing to call, galvanize and rally lawyers practicing in the jurisdiction to any action or inaction,” the LNBA statement maintained.

It can be recalled that Cllr. Johnson, the legal counsellor representing the interest of Associate Justice Ja’neh has called on lawyers and legal practitioners in the country to stage a three-day go-slow as a means of demanding the House of Representatives to adhere to the call of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of Liberia cited the House of Representatives following a writ of prohibition filed by Cllr. Johnson craving the court to halt then ongoing impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives but that body ignored said call terming the communication as a piece of paper.