Monrovia- May 18, 2022: Government’s lawyers in the alleged forgery and criminal Conspiracy case involving Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, Aloysius B. Toe and Senator Daniel F. Naathan of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) have requested the Monrovia Magisterial Court to arrest and imprison Senator Daniel F. Naathan for what they call bill jumping.

The government lead prosecutor, Counselor Sayma Serenius Cephus made the submission in open court on Monday, May 16, 2022.

Lawyers representing criminal defendants Cummings, Toe and Naathan on May 3 and 11, 2022 respectively, filed a document with the Monrovia Magistrate Court requesting the court to grant the duo brief leave of absence while the trial continues.

According to the defendants’ lead lawyer, Cllr. Abraham B. Sillah, Senator Daniel Naathan leave of absence is predicated upon a letter from Fidelity Health Care cautioning the Senator to take medical rest.

As for Mr. Cummings, Cllr. Sillah told the court that his leave of absence is to allow him do “all things” while the trial goes on without his presence in court.

Moreover, Cllr. Sillah filed another request with the court again when Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Political Leader of the Unity Party (UP) began his testimony in the case involving the three criminal defendants.

Ambassador Boakai is a “special subpoena witness” requested by the state to testify in the matter.

But, Cllr. Cephus to the court to deny the request for a leave of absence by the defendants because it is done in what he call bad faith.

The Solicitor General said Senator Naathan has “bill jump” and is campaigning in Gbarpolu County ahead of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in a bid to retain his seat.

He said the action of co – defendant Naathan is an affromt to the state and in particular, the court.

Cllr. Cephus said the court did not grant Senator Naathan a leave of absence while the trial is ongoing and as such, he must be arrested and jail for bill jumping.

“The request from Fidelity Health Care which is not a party to the case is vague and indistinct,” Cllr. Cephus said.

Cllr. Cephus: “ Naathan is in Gbarpolu campaigning and such conduct is equivalent to bill jumping and must therefore be arrested and remanded in a common jail to report daily to court.”

In the case of Mr. Cummings, the government lead prosecutor in the matter said that the he must be denied in part.

He said the court must prevail on co – defendant Cummings to stay in the country until Ambassador Boakai, Senator Nyonblee Kangar –Lawrence of the Liberty Party (LP) and Benedict Urey of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) can testify.

As for co – defendant Aloysius Toe, Cllr. Cephus asked the court to deny his leave of absence request as it is a part of a grand strategy to delay the proceeding.

SG Cephus intone that speedy trial has always been the request of the defendants and the state can not fathom why the defendants at this crucial time of the trial will be requesting “unmeritorious, vague and indistinct request.”

However, Judge Jomah Jallah reserved ruling on the state’s request to arrest and incarcerate the Gbarpolu Senator.

If Judge Jallah grant Mr. Cummings the leave of absence requested this time, it will be his fourth leave of absence since the inception of the forgery and criminal trial brought against him and others.