Liberia: Criminal Court “A” Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum for Government to Produce Guinean National Amid Mysterious Disappearance and Alleged Murder
Monrovia, Liberia – Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate production of Ibrahim Khalil Cherif, a Guinean national who reportedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances and is now alleged to have been murdered.
By Willie N. Tokpah willie.n.tokpah@frotpageafricaonline.com
The court’s order follows widespread concerns about Ibrahim Khalil Cherif’s safety and mounting public outcry regarding the circumstances surrounding his disappearance from the Monrovia Central Prison.
Cherif, facing charges of mercenarism, armed insurrection, and other serious offenses, was due for release following the dismissal of charges by the government on October 31. On that date, the Ministry of Justice filed a nolle prosequi motion, halting the prosecution of Cherif with the option to refile charges in the future. Judge Willie approved the motion, as documented in court records obtained by FrontPageAfrica.
The court document stated: “Government, Consistent with the statute provision of Chapter 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the Ministry of Justice, By and Through the office of the County Attorney of Montserrado County, hereby enter Nolle Prosequi in favor of Defendant Ibrahim Khalil in the above entitled cause of action, Criminal Mercenarism, Armed Insurrection, Criminal Facilitation, Criminal Conspiracy, and ParaMilitary Activities,” a court document in the possession of FrontPageAfrica noted.
However, when a court sheriff arrived at the prison to process Cherif’s release, he was missing. Cherif’s lawyer, former Supreme Court Justice Kabineh Ja’neh, expressed outrage, alleging that his client may have been kidnapped or even killed. Ja’neh subsequently sought redress from Criminal Court “A,” prompting Judge Willie to issue a 72-hour ultimatum for the government to produce Cherif.
Judge Willie’s directive followed a habeas corpus petition filed by Ja’neh, challenging the conflicting statements from government officials. The judge stated, “This court issued a release and when the sheriff went to the Monrovia Central Prison, he was told by prison authorities to go to some government authorities. This individual in question is still under the jurisdiction of the court and in case of any issue, the Ministry of Justice should have come back to the court to use the legal means. Therefore, this court has given the Ministry of Justice 72 hours to provide the living body of the defendant in question,” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, Criminal Court “A” Judge.
The contradiction
Adding to the confusion, Information Minister Jerelinmek Piah claimed Cherif was handed over to Guinean authorities, while Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah requested more time to verify Cherif’s whereabouts—contradicting Piah’s earlier statement and further fueling public suspicion.
Allegations have surfaced that top security officials, including Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, National Security personnel, and Solicitor General Fayiah, may have played a role in Cherif’s unauthorized transfer or potential forced disappearance. These accusations have intensified public outrage, with rights advocates voicing alarm over possible extrajudicial actions.
Ja’neh’s accusation
Cllr. Ja’neh has been very various critical of the security’s handling of the client. In a televised appearance on Spoon Network, Ja’neh directly implicated high-ranking Liberian officials, including Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah, alleging their involvement in Cherif’s disappearance. Ja’neh claims that these officials orchestrated Cherif’s removal from prison against court orders, sparking fears that he may have been secretly handed over to Guinean authorities—or worse, killed.
Said Ja’neh: “We have been informed that Cherif has been killed, but no one knows where his body is or whether he is alive. We filed a paper before the court to get the man out and when the Sheriff went there, his return shows that they could not find the man at the Monrovia Central Prison… Between you and me, we will make sure that there will be accountability. For security people to enter the prison and remove a prisoner from there outside the jurisdiction of the court demonstrates recklessness, especially under a government that came to power under the rule of law.”
Ja’neh contends that Cherif, who reportedly fled Guinea after being labeled a mercenary, had over $20,000 in personal funds and belongings confiscated by Liberian security forces. Of this amount, only $2,100 was returned following a court order.
Said Ja’neh: “We have been informed that Cherif has been killed, but no one knows where his body is or whether he is alive. We filed a paper before the court to get the man out and when the Sheriff went there, his return shows that they could not find the man at the Monrovia Central Prison… Between you and me, we will make sure that there will be accountability. For security people to enter the prison and remove a prisoner from there outside the jurisdiction of the court demonstrates recklessness, especially under a government that came to power under the rule of law.”
Ja’neh contends that Cherif, who reportedly fled Guinea after being labeled a mercenary, had over $20,000 in personal funds and belongings confiscated by Liberian security forces. Of this amount, only $2,100 was returned following a court order.
As the clock ticks on Judge Willie’s ultimatum, the Liberian government faces growing pressure to clarify its handling of Cherif’s case and reaffirm its commitment to transparency and due process.
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