The Government of Liberia has categorically refuted media reports claiming the arrest of Mr. Isaac Vah Tukpah, the co-author of a book containing obscene and defaming materials against the First Family of the Republic of Liberia.
Mr. Tukpah, who attempted fleeing the country on Tuesday night using an unauthorized crossing in Tianeh, Grand Capemount County, was instead prevented from doing so because the borders were already closed and for his safety.
According to MICAT, Mr. Tukpah was without the appropriate travel documents, in addition to attempting to cross when the borders were officially closed. This claimed the attention of the assigned immigration officer who acted in accordance with law and decided that he be held for safety reasons, given the late hours of his surreptitious attempt to leave the country.
Mr. Isaac Vah Tukpah was brought to the Liberian Immigration Headquarters in Monrovia on Wednesday morning and turned over to his lawyers.
A press release from the government information house on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 said, the President has said Mr. Tukpah is not being sought after by the Government, and he is therefore free to live in Liberia or travel out of the country if he so chooses.
“There is a legal recourse, whether here or in the U. S. That decision is left to the President’s family and all those maligned”, Information Minister Ledgerhood Rennie said, while emphasizing that the Government believes in the rule of law and human rights.
Meanwhile, Minister Rennie has reiterated that the Government has no intention of arresting Mr. Ivah Tukpah. He said the Government is instead surprised that Mr.Tukpah will attempt to leave the country through unrecognized points when there are well-known border posts. Minister Rennie said
a plausible motive for Mr. Tukpah could be his well-calculated intention to malign the Government by suggesting that it was after his life if he had succeeded in his diabolical orchestration to flee the country.
The Information Minister reminded Liberians of the enviable human rights record of the Weah-led Government which it remains committed to upholding despite the many unprovoked and unwarranted political ploys to tarnish the country’s reputation.
