The debate concerning the establishment of war and economic crimes court in the country seem to be something of ‘just public talks.’
Right now, there is no money to pay the court’s staffs. For over three months, they are yet to take pay.
Dr. Cllr. Barbu Jallah, an Executive of the court boast of competent staffs, professional people, who are passionate about the job, but said, they are being heavily challenged, thereby affecting their major operations and activities.
Despite not been paid for months, the OWECC-L staffs, Dr. Barbu said, are committed to their duties and are regular on their respective assignments.
This staggering revelation seems to confirm earlier public opinions that the court was established “only to arrest and try Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson (deceased) and nobody else.”
Cllr. Barbu: “In a drive to take complete ownership of the transitional justice processes, and to ensure that justice truly prevail in the country, the need to adequately fund strategic arms of government cannot be overemphasized.”
The office, according to Cllr. Barbu, has commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the “bold and commendable steps to establish the war and economic crimes court; a move gear to address key issues of the country’s past; culminating into the cry for adequate support to ensure effective operations of the court, which has remained just a ‘public talk’ of the day.
Cllr. Barbu spoke on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at a one day acquaintance meeting in Monrovia.
The meeting was organized by a group of civil society organizations under the banner: Liberia Civil Society Initiative for Transitional Justice.
It was hosted by the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFFEL). It brought together heads the office of the establishment of war and economic crimes court in Liberia (OWECC), including network members.
AFELL is part of the dignity consortium comprising: Community Healthcare initiative and Liberia Association of Psychosocial services.
This group coordinates a network of civil society organizations into transitional justice and accountability issues.
Cllr. Barbu, being very passionate in leading such key national process said, he has not a single police or national security officer assigned to him, “despite the risk and security nature associated with the work assigned to me.”
“I could leave this room now and once I get outside, something else could happen to me, but I believe that another Liberian will take over the process. What I do know for a fact is that the Liberian people are resolved for the court to be established,” he told the gathering.
According to him, his staffs were concerned about leaving a legacy. As such, they will do nothing negative, but the right thing ensuring that the mandate of the court is achieved in the midst of several challenges.
He acknowledged that the government has the political will to establish the court, should therefore take total ownership and focus more on working ‘inside than outside.’
“Imagine our staffs have not taken pay for two months; we don’t have the necessary funds to do the things we are supposed to do.
Moreover, the little fund government committed to us is not forthcoming; to get it is not just easy due to the bureaucracy as if you want to give up the job,” he narrated.
Cllr. Barbu is a renowned Liberian lawyer, he teaches law courses at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia.
He underscored the importance of addressing the issue of corruption across the country.
Corruption, Barbu said, is also a big issue in the country that “we are urging for the establishment of the anti-corruption court as we are doing for the establishment of war and economic crimes court.
As part of their ongoing engagements, Cllr. Barbu told the gathering that they are meeting with anti-
grafts institutions to include, The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, The General
Auditing Commission and the Internal Audit Agency to work together and address the issue.
He reiterated that corruption is an embarrassment to the country, but once those institutions work on through the court, the issue of corruption will be minimized.
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