Monrovia – Commissioner Mohammed Mud Fahnbulleh of the Unbiased Nationwide Fee on Human Rights (INCHR) has raised issues over what he describes as inconsistencies within the Liberian judiciary’s utility of the nation’s drug legal guidelines.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
In a press release posted on his Fb web page on August 12, 2025, Commissioner Fahnbulleh referenced the August time period opening on the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court docket in Grand Cape Mount County, the place Resident Decide Ousman Feika delivered a cost specializing in illicit medicine and a number of land gross sales.
Commissioner Fahnbulleh stated his consideration was significantly drawn to latest sentencing developments below the amended medicine regulation, which prescribes a minimal of 10 years and a most of 20 years imprisonment for offenses comparable to drug trafficking, drug importation, and drug possession.
In accordance toCllr. Decide Feika has issued among the harshest penalties in drug instances, together with a latest 60-year sentence in opposition to a person discovered responsible on three counts – drug trafficking, importation, and possession by making use of the utmost 20-year time period for every offense.
In distinction, he pointed to a separate case in Montserrado County involving the son of Nimba County District #7 Consultant, Musa Hassan Bility, who was sentenced to solely three years for a drug-related offense, regardless of the regulation’s minimal sentence being 10 years.
“No Decide has such energy to scale back the sentence within the medicine regulation from 10 to three. Up to date of this put up, no motion has been taken by the Supreme Court docket or members of the legislature concerning this. Nobody has requested why Musa Hassan Bility’s son was given solely 3 years, whereas the man in Cape mount was given 20 yeas for every offense. Is the sentencing interval of a responsible particular person below the Drug regulation based mostly on standing/ place in society? If nationwide leaders’ kin are given privileges, whereas abnormal individuals endure the total weight of the regulation, then, there was no want for these moms to have walked within the rain elevating their voices to finish illicit medicine,” acknowledged” Fahnbulleh.
The INCHR Commissioner confused that his remarks weren’t a private assault, noting that the choose who issued the three-year sentence is a longtime pal and that Bility himself is “a giant brother” from his group. As a substitute, he stated, the matter is about making certain equity and upholding the regulation with out bias.
“This put up is just not in opposition to anybody, the choose who dominated and gave Musa’s son three years is my excellent pal and brother from regulation college days and Carey Avenue. Musa can be a giant brother and from my group. I would like the correct factor executed!!”
Fahnbulleh additionally questioned the silence of each the Supreme Court docket and the Legislature on the matter, calling for accountability and equal utility of the regulation no matter social or political standing.
As of press time, neither the judiciary nor Mr. Bility had publicly responded to the Human Rights Commissioner’s feedback.
