• Weah’s maiden AU Summit -Liberia gets Peace and Security Council post, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn
• Weah told Justice Minister-designate unfit: Sources, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• Corruption watchdog admits to misapplying USD30,000, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• AFL remains in capable hands –Former Minister Samukai, Source: The INQUIRER
• CSOs expose challenges in criminal justice system, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Magistrate Wesseh to reassume jurisdiction over USD30K truck ‘disappearance’ case, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Large consignment of scabies drug expected, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• “49% of LEC subscribers not paying anything” new management promises to reduce commercial loses, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn
• Golden Veroleum sued for USD643,005 debt, Source: New DEMOCRAT

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Weah’s maiden AU Summit -Liberia gets Peace and Security Council post, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn

Report says President George Weah attended the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the weekend, his first international meeting since taken office on 22 January. He joined other African leaders and deliberated on different items of the summit’s agenda including the report of the Executive Council, the annual report of the chairperson of the commission among others.

Weah told Justice Minister-designate unfit: Sources, Source: New DEMOCRAT

President George Weah has reportedly refused to withdraw his justice minister-designate, Cllr. Charles Gibson despite public outcry that he lacks credibility, integrity and has a reported corruption history; the New Democrat said quoting an insider. In spite of this, the paper reported that Cllr. Gibson is expected to face the Senate’s Judicial Committee today, Monday for a confirmation hearing.

Corruption watchdog admits to misapplying USD30,000, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The executive chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has admitted to misapplying USD30,000 intended for LACC employees’ remittance. Cllr. James Verdier said he used the money to purchase a 15 KVA generator for the LACC with the consent of employees of the entity. But the employees speaking to journalists said they are not aware of any generator being purchased for which they made an input.

AFL remains in capable hands –Former Minister Samukai, Source: The INQUIRER

Former defense minister Brownie Samukai has expressed full confidence in the ability of his successor, Rtd. Gen. Daniel Ziankahn to move the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) forward as a force for good. Samukai spoke recently when he turned over to the human resource director. He said the AFL is on the path of technical and tactical competence and added that “I do not claim any part of the legacy here, but the foundations have been laid and they have to build on them.”

CSOs expose challenges in criminal justice system, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The paper reported that Liberia and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have done a lot to improve the country’s Criminal Justice System (CJS) but the system is still faced with a multitude of challenges, a report says.  According to the report, prison facilities, the courts, and police, as well as communities, still have a lot to do in upgrading the country’s CJS. The program according to report intends to improve the country’s criminal justice system by training the police and prison officers among others.

Magistrate Wesseh to reassume jurisdiction over USD30K truck ‘disappearance’ case, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Criminal Court C judge, Blamo Dixon Friday denied a petition by lawyers of defendants Robert Lambi and Layee Kromah to prevent  Magistrate Tweh Wesseh of the Gardnersville Magisterial Court from compelling the two to produce a DAF truck that allegedly disappeared from the courtyard of the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill in Monrovia. Judge Dixon has mandated Magistrate Wesseh to resume jurisdiction of the case.

Large consignment of scabies drug expected, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A large consignment of Ivermectin, a drug to treat scabies skin disease is expected in the country soon, the Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Tolbert Nyenswah has disclosed. When arrived, the drug would be used to combat the disease which is fast spreading in the country.  Mr. Nyenswah said there are more than 10,000 cases of scabies in the country with Montserrado County accounting for the highest number. Scabies is a parasitic infection caused by a mite (sarcoptes scabie).

“49% of LEC subscribers not paying anything” new management promises to reduce commercial loses, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn

The new CEO of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), John Ashley says around 49 percent of subscribers benefiting from power not paying anything. Speaking to journalists at the weekend in Monrovia, Mr. Ashley said his management team has initiated an assessment of the entire management team to identify the problems within the energy company. However, speaking further the management he said plans to reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses, operational expenditure per kilowatt-hour sold and system interruption while increasing connections. Meanwhile, the LEC and an Irish company have signed a USD247 million contract to improve power delivery across the country.

Golden Veroleum sued for USD643,005 debt, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Commercial Court in Monrovia has summoned Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) to answer to a USD643,005 action of debt filed against it by  Tropical Logistics Liberia. The logistics company lawsuit said it won a bid put up by GVL and transported assorted materials from Monrovia to other parts, made payment for storage of container which summed up to USD643,005, but GVL failed to pay for the services the company provided.