Activists detained for stunt against MPs' expenses

Jonathan Paye-Layleh

BBC News, Monrovia

The head of a Liberian pressure and advocacy group called the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia, Emmanuel Gonquoi, plus two others have on Monday been arrested, handcuffed and sent to the Monrovia Central Prison.

Government prosecutors told the BBC the men had been charged in connection with their action last month - when they forcibly locked the gate of the parliament building.

In a video, the group said they were acting to prevent lawmakers from entering the building until they have returned to national coffers the $30,000 (£22,000) each of them had received for something called "legislative engagements".

A magistrates' court in Monrovia issued an arrest warrant for the men on Friday after they had been charged with, among other things, "disorderly conducts, simple assault and terroristic threats".

The group said it took the action against parliament because in its opinion, it was inappropriate and insensitive for lawmakers to receive such an amount of money when the country was going through hardships with Covid-19 killing people and hospitals running out of medical supplies. 

But lawmakers have denied wrongdoing, saying the money in question is captured in the annual budget.

The head of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia, Emmanuel Gonquoi, told the BBC from hiding on Friday that he had been advised by his lawyers to stay away and report himself in court on Monday.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: @EmmanuelGonquo5/Twitter