The US$500 million cocaine trial involving nine Ghanaian nationals suspected of ownership of the drugs is expected to resume on Monday, September 22, 2008 at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.

The case will be tried at the Criminal Court ‘C’ by Judge Emmanuel N. Kollie who has already advised lawyers in the case to be on time.

Suspects Oteng Akras, Robert Adjei, James Addy, Joseph Agbo, John Amewa Kofi, Mamah Dramani, Gibrill Ayon, Henry Coleman and Richard Mensah were arrested on January 29, 2008 by troops of the French Naval Vessel (Touneres), while patrolling Liberia territorial waters. They were turned over to the Liberian government for prosecution.

According to court records, the defendants were arrested with 24 tons of cocaine in nine white rubber barrels in a IMO (6806559) Blue Atlantic Vessel on Liberia’s territorial waters.

After their arrest, the defendants were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Liberia National Police (LNP), and according to the Police, the IMO (6806559), Blue Atlantic Vessel is involved in trafficking and distribution of drugs (cocaine) on the West Coast of Africa.

The police investigation also established that drugs found on board the Vessel were owned and possessed by the suspects.

The defendants who are currently on Criminal Appearance Bond valued over LD$200,000 filed by their lawyers led by Cllr. Charles Abdullah, were present in court Thursday, September 19 and expected to reappear on Monday.

State lawyers headed by Atty. Samuel K. Jacobs who is also Montserrado County Attorney have forwarded the names of their witnesses to testify on behalf of the Liberian government in prosecuting the nine suspected Ghanaian nationals.

Those expected to take the witness stand against the defendants include Col. Augustine Doe of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Maj. Robertson P. Norbia also of the DEA, Liberia National Police officers Oscar Porte, Clarisse Simpson and the Captain of the French Naval Vessel.

Though it is not clear as to who will be the first to take the witness stand for the state, there are indications that the Liberian government attached importance to the case. At the same time, about 15 persons have been selected by both lawyers to serve as jurors in the case. The selection was done in the courtroom (Court-C).

Ambassador Conteh Speaks On Plan

At the same time, Liberia Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, says he will represent the supreme interest of Liberia by encouraging increased bilateral cooperation to enhance sisterly relations between the two countries.

	• Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh

His statement was contained in a speech delivered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently after he was commissioned by the President of Liberia as Ambassador to Nigeria.

According to a Foreign Ministry press release, Ambassador Conteh pledged to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Liberian diplomat who also has oversight responsibility for Togo and Benin said he looks forward to working with the government of His Excellency, President Umara Musa Yar Adua, whose inspiring leadership in Nigeria and the sub- region, has been instrumental in sustaining peace in Liberia.

Ambassador Conteh also promised to uphold the guarding principles of Liberian Foreign Policy including maintenance of national security, preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, promotion of peace and harmony based on the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and the virtue of liberal democracy.

Dr. Conteh, who until his preferment by the President, served as President of the University of Liberia, further promised to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Refining Company (NNPC) through the government of Nigeria, in the current reform and restructure process of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) as well as to seek increased Nigeria technical know-how in business and trade to help boost the Liberian economy.

He said he will pursue good neighborliness, sub-regional peace and security within the context of the African Union Chapter and the Treaty of ECOWAS of which Liberia is signatory to achieve his objectives.

In other news, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Olubanke King-Akerele, at the head of a 7-man Ministerial delegation has departed Liberia to attend the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Ministerial delegation is part of the official delegation representing Liberia, headed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is already in New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

President Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Other members of the delegation who will participate in the three months sessions of the General Assembly are: Ambassador William V.S. Bull, Sr., Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Conmany B. Wesseh, Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Cllr. Krubo B. Kollie, Deputy Foreign Minister/Legal Counsel; and Hon. Robert Y. Lormia, II, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Others include: Hon. Elias Shoniyin, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation; Hon. Marcus M. Kofa, Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs; Hon. Shirley Brownell, Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hon. Esther Lloyd Menyongar, Deputy Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.