During the early afternoon of Friday, August 2, 2024, a scary scene occurred when a group of Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldiers flooded at the Civil Law Court “A” with an ununiformed man being handcuffed. It was alleged that the man identified as Gayflor Dardu, a personal of the AFL, had been dishonorably discharged for supposed failure to pay over US$10, 000 owed to some individuals.
But the situation left many around the premises of the court wondering why was officer Dardu brought to the Civil Law Court for prosecution when the matter is a debt action?
Investigation revealed that officer Dardu was jailed for 60 days at the Coast Guard Base by men of the Army after several attempts made to secure his release despite his commitment for the said money to be deducted from his monthly salary.
A receipt of US$ 5,000 part payment in possession of this news outlet was paid by students of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law to Major Selmah Alexander on May 27, 2024, from Mr. Robert Henry Johnson ii, President of the Law School Students Association of which Dardu is a student.
The AFL findings worksheet in our possession showed that officer Dardu was never represented by a lawyer throughout the military investigations.
The findings revealed that Dardu having knowledge of the lawful order issued by Provost Marshall to pay money he owed to some soldiers for tricycles, an order which was his duty to obey at the
BTC Barracks on January 31,2024, but allegedly failed to obey.
Officer Dardu, according to the findings was charged, found guilty and punished on the same day without being represented by a lawyer despite several efforts made for his legal representation, but Army investigators refused on grounds that a civilian cannot represent a solider.
Despite intervention made through the court twice based on Petition for Judicial Review for the release of the soldier, the AFL High Command refused the court’s order and kept him in detention for nearly three months.
Based on their refusal to have Dardu released, Judge Golda Bona Elliott of the Civil Law Court “A” summoned authorities of the AFL to appear before the court to show reason why they are refusing to release the officer.
Judge Elliott Writ of summons quotes, “you are hereby commanded to summon the above named, respondent/defendant(s) in the above entitled cause of action, to appear before the June term, A.D. 2024, same being the 17th day of June, A. D. 2024, at the hour of 10:00 a.m.
The Judge also ordered the summons of respondent(s)/defendant(s) herein to file his/her/their return(s)/answer(s) to the petitioners)/plaintiff(s) petition/complaint, on or before the 24th day of July, A.D. 2024.
The order warned that failure to appear before the court, default judgment will be rendered against the summoned, while ordering to stay all further proceedings in this matter and have the petitioner immediately release from custody, pending the hearing of the petition for judicial review.
Judge Elliott then instructed that Sheriff to return the original Writ Of Summons to his office on/or before the 24th day of June, A.D. 2024, with the official returns endorsed on the back of the original as to the manner of its service.
Meanwhile, officer Dardu was temporarily released onto his lawyers on Friday, August 2, 2024, after spending nearly three months in detention at the Coast Guard Base.
