Africa-Press – Liberia. -Council Of Chiefs calls him to order
A man purporting as a traditional court judge in Tappita, Nimba County, has been called to order by the Nimba County Council of Chiefs, warning him to stop extorting residents in the name of rendering justice as his operation has no legitimacy or legal backing.
The council, led by its head, Chief Robert Sehnian, has warned Melvin Gbadiah, who reportedly operates a quasi-traditional court, to shut down the facility.
Gbadiah, according to sources, have been parading Tappita and adjacent areas purporting as the Coordinator for Culture and Native Affairs, a position that the council says does not exist.
“We heard that Melvin Gbadiah has a court in Tappita and takes money from people as bond fees for people who are accused of being a witchcraft and taken to his court,” Sehnian said. “As Chairman of the Council of Chief in this county, I am not aware of any court operating under any coordinator of native affairs.”
Chief Sehniah disclosed that there used to be a Superintendent of Native Affairs before in Tappita, but that office has since ceased to exist.
That office was responsible to settle matters involving the native people, because Tappita was far from the provincial capital, Sanniquellie.
However, the office was dissolved under the Local Government Act of 2018, giving all authorities to the Coordinator of Culture Affairs—a position created in the local government act of 2018.
“If someone is there collecting money from people falsely he should be compared to return the people’s money back,” he said.
“As far as I am concerned, we don’t have any office in Tappita or court to conduct any culture affairs,” he noted.
According to a media report, the residents in Tappita are calling on the government for the immediate closure of a court, declaring alleged native court as a form of intimidation, harassment and molestation of the peaceful citizens.
In the recently held Ministry of Internal Affairs National Orientation Workshop held in Ganta, the issue of trial by ordeal was announced of totally being abolished, giving more power to the culture coordinator (of which Melvin Gbadiah is not included) of a country to handle zoe or traditional affairs through peacebuilding.
Melvin Gbadiah is said to be collecting about L$15,000.00 to L$25,000.00 from anyone accused and brought before his court, which is operated in a small yellow building on the outskirts of Tappita.
“The small money fine or bond fee in Gbadiah court is L$ 15k, depending on the nature of the traditional case,” said one Moore via mobile phone.
“But, if you are accused of being a witchcraft and support to go Dahnplay to take oath, he compared the person to pay L$ 25k,” he said.
When contacted, Gbadiah via mobile phone, his phone rang perpetually with no response, but he had earlier told another reporter from the Inquirer Newspaper that he works with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He said that he was appointed by the Internal Affairs Minister.
“During the CDC-led government, I was the Superintendent for Native Affairs, but by the creation of the Local Government Act, my position is now Coordinator for Culture and Native Affairs,” he told the Inquirer Newspaper.
Gbadiah, however, failed to clarify the accusation of the alleged extortion.
Some Nimbaians believe that Gbadiah is not acting alone and that he is acting based on the backings of some higher ups in the county or the country.
“This man cannot function in Tappita, with an office and with a sign board attached, with no high official acting,” said Manweah Joe in Ganta.
Meanwhile, Gbadiah was once accused by Chief Franklin Toweh of bewitching him—an act that eventually led to him losing his sight. Gbadiah has since denied this accusation.
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