By Our Staff Writer

Monrovia- May 20, 2022: The Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia Magisterial Court, Jomah Jallah has for the fourth time, grant a leave of absence in favor of Mr. Alexander B. Cummings while the trial of forgery and criminal conspiracy against him and others of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) is ongoing.

Judge Jomah Jallah granted the leave of absence to Mr. Cummings and Senator Daniel F. Naathan on Thursday, May 19, 2022 during trial in open court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.

On May 3 and 11, 2022 respectively, Mr. Cummings and Senator Naathan filed a request for a leave of absence through their lawyers to the Monrovia Magistrate Court on grounds that Mr. Cummings wants the court to grant him the leave so that he can “do all things” while Sen. Naathan request is based on health grounds from the Fidelity Health Care for health reason.

On May 16, 2022, when the matter was brought before the judge by the defense lawyers as a reminder, the state interposed vehemently.

The state argued that the request for leave of absence by the criminal defendants was intended to delay the proceeding.

But interestingly, when Judge Jallah granted the leave of absence for Mr. Cumminings and Sen. Naathan, the prosecution did not object.

Furthermore, when Judge Jomah was reading his verdict on the matter without calling the both legal teams’ lawyers, Solicitor General Cephus and Cllr. Sillah approached the judge’s bar and had a low tone chat before Judge Jallah ended his verdict.

Judge Jallah had earlier stated: “This court says the application of brief voluntary absence for these proceedings is hereby granted for two weeks beginning immediately after today’s proceeding.”

But after the brief chat with the lawyers while he rendered his verdict, Judge Jomah rephrased his verdict with an ending that Mr. Cummings leave of absence has been granted “immediately”.

With the verdict, the ANC Political Leader is at will to attend today’s testimony of Mr. Benoni Urey of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) or begin his leave “immediately”.

As for Sen. Naathan, Judge Jallah granted his leave of absence but until May 30, 2022 while at the same time ruled that Cllr. Aloysius Toe request for a leave of absence is under review by the court.

On Monday, May 16, 2022, Cllr. Aloysius Toe also filed a request with the court for a leave of absence in order to allow him execute a contract he has secured.

Judiciary pundits see the action of Judge Jomah Jallah to have listened to the both legal team lawyers in a low tone chat with them before rephrasing his decision as inappropriate.

They also frowned on government prosecutors’ inaction to have not objected to the decision of the judge as encouraging the defendants to delay and direct the trial.