Supreme Court Recognizes Scrap Association Leadership

The assigned Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Montserrado County, His Honor Emery S. Paye, has ordered that the properties of the Scrap Association of Liberia be turned over to the Aylmber Johnson leadership to commence the operations of the association with immediate effect. His Honor Judge Paye made the decision following final arguments between lawyers representing the two parties recently.

“It is hereby ordered that Messrs. Mohammed Kanneh, Hassan A. Bass, Mohammed Keita, Management of North Star, Management of Edgail, the Management of Universal Impex, et al to be identified now in possession of the Scrap Association of Liberia properties, turn over the affairs of the association to the petitioner and corps of officers to commence the operations of the association with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the tenure by which the said officers should remain in office commence as of October 20, 2014, same being the date of this court’s final judgment and it is hereby so ordered,” said the court’s records.

According to the records, Aylmber B. Johnson filed a petition for declaratory judgment before the court on March 14, 2014, contending that on February 26, 2013, the Liberia Scrap Association held elections for its new corps of officers- a process declaring him winner.

Johnson further complained that following his subsequently induction into office as the President on September 14, 2103, he and his corps of officers were barred from assuming office by the dependents on grounds that the election results were nullified by the Executive Committee for an alleged fraud during the conduct of the election.

Johnson also noted to the court that the Chairman of the Election Commission, Mr. Hassan Bass named Edwin O. Urey, the former President, who did not contest during the elections, as president and Mohammed Keita as Vice President without legal authority.  He (Johnson) prayed the court to declare his rights as the President of the Scrap Association of Liberia.

Records in the possession of this paper showed that the dependents were served the copy of the petition, but “failed, neglected and refused” to filed returns as required by the law, therefore ruled to bare denial during the disposition of the law issues.

On June 9, 2014, the executive committee chairman, by and through Edwin O. Urey as chairman and president of the association, filed a motion to intervene- a motion assigned, argued and subsequently denied.

The legal battle, which lasted for seven month plus, came to a logical conclusion on October 20, 2014, when the duly elected President of the association, Aylmber B. Johnson, was given the legal mandate by the Supreme Court. Of Liberia to stir the affairs of the Scrap Association of Liberia with “all rights and privileges.”