MONROVIA: A group, styled: African Youth Peer Review Committee has called on former Justice Minister, Cllr. Benedict Sannor, to stop what it calls “undermining its case” against the Bea Mountain Mining Company in Grand Cape Mount County.
The group, in a release issued late Monday, October 10, 2022, noted that it has gathered that Cllr. Sannor, without the knowledge of residents of Jehkandor in Grand Cape Mount, crafted a “Power of Attorney” document that will allow each local head of the various communities to sign, giving him authority to take-up a legal case on their behalf.
AYPRC said, though the former Justice Minister is aware of its US$10m legal suit against the Management of Bea Mountain, it is unfortunate for Cllr. Sannoh to go back to the same citizens for support to fight against the same company.
It can be recalled the African Youth Peer Review Committee filed a US$10 million lawsuit against the Management of Bea Mountain for damages as a result of polluting water sources for rural communities operating in its operational areas.
The international youth group said, in the coming days, it will file a legal appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia as relates to Bea Mountain’s alleged flagrant disregard for human rights and international protocols on environmental protection in the area.
The youth warned the former Justice Minister, Cllr. Benedict Sannor, to desist from undermining its case with Bea Mountain or risk unspecified actions.
The group’s release, signed by its Executive Director, Jeddlee Kinnii, asserted that the former Justice Minister risks jeopardizing his legal career, if he continues to create “two-party complainants” in a case that is already being followed internationally, with lots of global interests attached.
“Cllr. Benedict Sannor and others should know that this case is not just locally followed. Our international partners are watching closely how our judiciary dispenses Justice on this matter. And as a matter of fact, the citizens of Jekandor have already given us the Power of Attorney to file this case on their behalf which is justifiable enough,” the Executive Director said.
“If the former Justice Minister, without the fear of God, will go back to the same people, knowing very well our organization has already been legally empowered to carry out such task, it beats my imagination how the learned-counselor will be treading such elusive path” the release quoted AYPRC Executive Director as saying.
According to the youth group, it is in the process of filling an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia after the circuit court in Grand Cape Mount County came down with a ruling that was extremely dissatisfactory, and in the interest of the management of Bea Mountain Mining Company.
The group disclosed that in the next two weeks, a team of legal experts from Zimbabwe will arrive in Liberia to review its legal papers which will be used as testimonials against the Management of Bea Mountain Mining Company.
The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, Cllr. Benedict F. Sannor, is yet to comment on the statement of the African Youth Peer Review Committee.