Court Orders Public Minister Collins, Others Jailed for Defiance
MONROVIA – Judge Nancy Sammy has ordered the arrest and incarceration of Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker Collins her deputies and other for failing to abide by court’s order.
The Court’s order came after the Minister and her deputies refused to appear in court to show a probable cause why she and others involved should not be held in contempt of court.
It can be recalled that on July 27, 2022, the Court issued a citation; inviting Madam Collins and others to a conference in order to settle a land dispute as complained by Mamadou Barry who petitioned the court to solve a misunderstanding between he and the respondents: Mamadu Jalloh, Mutar Jalloh et al base on confusion of where to build.
The Court invited the Public Works through its Minister to verify and show those involved where the alley is in the community and help solve the misunderstanding, but they did not attend the conference as scheduled.
Base on their failure to appear in court on July 27, hence the minister of Public Works, Madam Collins, her deputies and the respondents were held in Contempt of Court and was issued another citation for August 9, to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court, but failed to show up again.
Judge Nancy F. Sammy, the Assigned Circuit Judge at the Civil Law Court noted that such act committed by the Minister, Cllr. Dallamah J. Suloteh and others is an affront and disrespect to the court of law and as such, they should be placed behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison for a period of one month.
“The clerk is hereby immediately mandated to issue a Writ of Arrest and place same in the hands of the Sheriff of this court to have Minister Ruth Coker Collins and all her Deputies as well as Cllr. Dallamah J. Suloteh arrested and incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison for a period of one month for their defiant and disrespectful attitude exhibited to this Court”
While the arrest warrant has been issued, a segment of the public, judging from past experience, says it is highly unlikely that the officials will be incarcerated as ordered by the Judge.
