By: Barclay Karnley Jr
MONROVIA: Grand Gedeh County Senator, and former warlord, Thomas Yaya Nimely, has openly confessed that he betrayed Nimba County Senator, who is also a former warlord, Prince Yormie Johnson (late), for supporting the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.
Senator Nimely said, he supported the War and Economic Crimes Court by signing on the Court Documents.
Senator Nimely, in his eulogy to the fallen Nimba County Lawmaker on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, d4elivred in the Plenary of the Liberian Senate noted that he ignored several efforts and warnings from the fallen Senator, “PYJ”, not to sign the Resolution for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.
Senator Johnson was a former warlord and head of the erstwhile breakaway rebel faction of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), styled: Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL).
PYJ was notoriously known at home and abroad when he spearheaded the capturing, torturing and subsequently killing of Liberia’s then sitting President, Samuel Kanyon Doe.
President Doe was a son of Grand Gedeh County, of which Thomas Yaya Nimely currently serves as Senator.
Senators Nimely, PYJ, former President Charles Taylor, Alhex-rebel leaders Alhaji G. V. Kromah, Sekou Damate Konneh, George Boiley among others were recommended by the erstwhile Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), for war crimes prosecution for their alleged roles in the Liberia civil war.
Since the end of the civil crisis, the Country has been grappling in fighting impunity against individuals who committed atrocities and heinous crimes during the bloody civil unrest.
Both Senators Prince Johnson and Thomas Yaya Nimely are strong opposition to the establishment of the War Crimes Court in Liberia.
The duo has publicly made known their opposition to the Court establishment.
“When we were signing the resolution for the court establishment, Senator Johnson wasn’t there and he wasn’t aware of our decision; When he came, the next day he asked: Did Sen. Nimely sign? And I said, “yes,” and he immediately went and signed the resolution,” he asserted.
The Grand Gedeh Senator further revealed that he received a call from Senator Johnson that very night, asking him (Senator Nimely), why he signed the resolution for the establishment of the War Crimes Court despite his (Senator Johnson) warning not to sign the resolution.
“Immediately that night, he called and asked, Distinguish: Why did you sign the resolution? You were the only person I was relying on to kick against that resolution. I was unable to answer that question posed to me by Senator Johnson up to now”, Senator Nimely said.
The Grand Gedeh County Senator however, stressed that he is “very sure that the quest by this government for the establishment of the War Crimes Court significantly contributed to the death of Senator Johnson.”
He, meanwhile disclosed that despite his opposition for the establishment of the War Crimes Court in Liberia, the Nimba County Senator greatly worked in reconciling Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties.
Senator Nimely, at the same time, maintains that several of their discussions after the civil war and even at the Liberian Senate were tailored around reconciling the people of both Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties.
The Grand Gedeh County Senator however called on citizens of both Counties to see the death of Senator Johnson as a unifying force and a means of reconciliation for lasting peace among citizens of the two Counties and Liberia-at-large.
Senator Nimely further noted that he is optimistic that the death of Senator Johnson will not silent the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court as there exists a renewed vigour by the government for the Court establishment.
