THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

News concerning the indictment of Cllr. Varney Sherman, Speaker Alex Tyler and two others and the arrest of two Nigerians are stories dominating today’s edition of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Tyler, Sherman Indicted

The Criminal Court ‘C at the Temple of Justice on Wednesday, May 25^th served Senator Varney Sherman and House Speaker Alex Tyler with a five-count indictment, which includes Bribery, Criminal Conspiracy, Economic Sabotage, Criminal Solicitation and Criminal Facilitation. A criminal appearance bond in total of US$150,000.00 was filed for Speaker Tyler by the Sky International Insurance Company while Senator Sherman, Ernest C.B. Jones and Christopher Onanuga’s bond were in total of US$1.5 million from the Omega Insurance Company, NEWS newspaper reports.

Related Caption: ‘Criminal Conspiracy’: Tyler, Sherman, Others Indicted For Bribery (FrontPage Africa), Sherman, Tyler Indicted-Immunity Lessened (In Profile Daily), Sherman, Tyler Bailed On US$1.6M Bond (New Democrat), Tyler, Sherman, Others Face Criminal Prosecution (Daily Observer)

DEA Probes Nigerians On Heroin Deal

The Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency, (LDEA) Detachment at the Roberts International Airport, (RIA) in Margibi County, has arrested and forwarded to court two Nigerian nationals for allegedly bringing into the country several kilograms of heroin. The two arrested Nigerians are identified as Onuoha C. Samuels, 46 and Victor Uchi Ukam, 30. According to the Chief Investigator of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency at the Roberts International Airport, LT/Col. Augustine B. Doe, on March 11, 2016, Onuoha C. Samuel, a Nigerian, aged 46, was arrested with 4 kilograms of heroin and on April 25, 2016, Suspect Victor Uchi Ukam was also arrested with 23 tubes of heroin he swallowed before coming to Liberia, In Profile Daily reports.

Related Captions: Two Nigerians Arrested With Heroin (The NEWS), Nigerians In Court On Heroin Charges (New Democrat)

OTHER STORIES

Gov’t Gets ‘Dossier’ From Global Witness…On Alleged Bribery

The NEWS newspaper reports that the Global Witness, an international watchdog, has reportedly sent a ‘dossier of evidence’ to the presidential taskforce to facilitate its investigation. Information Minister Eugene Nagbe said since the Liberian Government began to investigate Global Witness report in which it alleged that several past and current officials were bribed by Sable Mining, the group has been fully cooperating with the taskforce.

Boakai Meets Liberian Student Leadership…In Istanbul

According to the NEWS newspaper, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai on Tuesday, May 24^th met with a representative group of the Liberian Students Association of Turkey (LIBSAT) at his Marmarma Taksim Hotel in Istanbul. Leading the delegation was Mr. Mohammed Amjad Sonnie, who was designated by LIBSAT President Sam Sumo. In their presentation, the students solicited VP Boakai’s support in helping them to make this year’s July 26 Independence celebration possible and enjoyable. VP Boakai thanked the students for their worthy pursuits in that country and cautioned them to remain law abiding.

Related Caption: VP Boakai Attends High-Level Midterm Summit…As World Humanitarian Summit Ends In Turkey (In Profile Daily)

Govt to Double Tobacco Tax, Charge 1 Cent Per Minute On Phone Calls

The Daily Observer asserts that beginning July 1, every caller or phone consumer within Liberia is expected to pay US$0.01 (1 U.S. cent) per minute on all calls, if the Legislature approves the Special Amendment to the Liberia Revenue Code (LRC) as proposed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The imposition of excise of $0.01 per minute on phone calls was proposed by the President to support the 2016/2017 Fiscal Budget. In her communication to the Legislature, the President also wants the Legislature to increase the excise rate on alcohol beverages from 35% to 45% and more than double the excise rate on tobacco products, from 35% to 80%. The special amendment to the LRC, according to President Sirleaf, is to provide incentives for additional investment in the economy and the direct revenue implication of US$30.1 million to support the FY16/17 National Budget.

The ALSF Management Board Elects New Chairman

The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) Management Board has announced that Liberia’s Cllr. Seward Montgomery Cooper will become the Chairman of its Board effective June 30, 2016. According to a dispatch from Lusaka, Zambia the ALSF meeting took place on May 22, 2015. The ALSF Director, Stephen Karangizi, congratulated the new Chairman on his appointment and thanked the outgoing members for their valuable service and commitment to the ALSF. For his part, Cllr. Seward Cooper said he looks forward to his new role in providing the necessary leadership to the ALSF as it undergoes a Medium-Term Review of its current 2013–2017 Medium Term Strategy, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Seward Cooper Named ALSF New Chairman (The NEWS)