–Witness tells Court
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia: Opposition All Liberian Party (ALP) Chairman Mr. Theodoore Momo has testified in the trial of Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader Alexander B. Cummings, telling the Monrovia City Court that the original version of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) framework agreement being requested by prosecutors does exist.
When asked by prosecutors about the whereabouts of the CPP original framework document, Mr. Momo explained that a copy of the document was with CPP’s former chairperson and Liberty Party (LP) political leader Senator Nyonblee Karnga – Lawrence, and each of the other three political leaders of the CPP constituent parties which are Unity Party (UP), ANC, and ALP.
Mr. Cummings is on trial for criminal charges based on accusations by his fellow opposition leader Mr. Benoni Urey and the All Liberian Party that the accused and his ANC party allegedly tampered with the framework agreement of the Collaborating Political Parties and attached his (Urey’s) signature to a photocopy version.
Mr. Cummings has denied there exists any original CPP framework agreement other than what his accusers claim is a photocopy version and has instead challenged them to produce the original. He faces charges of forgery and criminal conspiracy, but he has denied any wrongdoing.
Witness Momo testified Wednesday, 23 February 2022 and claimed that the original “ Collaborating Political Parties’ Framework Document was given to Mr. Cummings when he took over as CPP chair.
He testified that after the four political leaders and their constituent party chairs signed the document at different locations due to Covid – 19 outbreak on 19 May 2020, five copies were made and delivered to then Chairman Cummings for the purpose of notarizing all five copies and returning four of the signed copies to the CPP and the fifth to the National Elections Commission (NEC) for accreditation of the CPP.
He said those five copies were delivered to Mr. Cummings by Unity Party Chair Mo Ali.
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According to him, the CPP documents are in the possession of Sen. Karnga – Lawrence (LP), Joseph Nyumah Boakai (UP), Benoni Urey (ALP) and Alexander B. Cummings (ANC).
Following his testimony, the Monrovia City Court Magistrate Jomah Jallah granted the prosecution’s application for a subpoena Duces Tecum and for a temporary mark of identification to be placed on the instrument which he testified to.
Mr. Momo testified that after CPP’s political leaders signed and endorsed a resolution of intent to form the CPP, the framework document was drafted and presented to then Chairman Urey for onward submission to the leaders after months of deliberation.
He said after the revision of the document, it was sent to a validation committee to set a date for the formal signing of the CPP framework document on 19 May 2020.
After Urey’s tenure as CPP chair, Momo continued, the original of these documents were submitted to Mr. Cummings who had immediately been ushered in as the first legitimate chairman.
The accused, Mr. Cummings once chaired the opposition CPP which has already broken apart following a prolonged internal fight. The CPP was once made up of the ALP, ANC, the former ruling Unity Party and the Liberty Party.
Both UP and ALP have announced their withdrawal from the CPP, and LP is also divided into two factions, one aligning with Mr. Cummings and his ANC, while another LP faction remains loyal to Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga – Lawrence.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Jallah has suspended the trial to resume on Friday 25, February 2022 at 10:00am.https://thenewdawnliberia.com/no-original-cpp-framework-document-exist-cummings-responds-to-city-court-subpoena/
