MONROVIA: A local pro-democracy group, the Foundation for Human Rights Defense International (FOHRD) has announced plans for legal action against Police Inspector General, Gregory Coleman, accusing him of mishandling cases and calling for his recusal from Liberia’s drug investigation.
According to FOHRD, it is preparing to pursue legal action over what the organization alleges are failures to properly handle or investigate several cases.
FOHRD Executive Director, Torbor Tee Wonokay Fangalo made the disclosure while criticizing what he described as alleged efforts to conceal or inadequately address matters of significant public interests.
Fangalo specifically referenced the Melvin Earley case and Liberia’s ongoing drug controversy, arguing that the issues require credible investigation and accountability.
He also called on Inspector General Coleman to recuse himself from the drug-related investigation, saying, his continued involvement could raise questions about the credibility and independence of the process.
“The Foundation for Human Rights Defense International (FOHRD) is suing Gregory Coleman for all the cases that he tried to cover up, including the drug case,” Fangalo said.
FOHRD’s accusations have not, however, been established in court, and the organization has not publicly detailed the specific legal claims, causes of action or remedies it intends to seek.
The planned legal action comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Liberia’s security institutions, particularly over the handling of the country’s high-profile drug cases.
Fangalo argues that where senior security officials are directly connected to investigations under public scrutiny, recusal may be necessary to protect both the integrity of the process and public confidence in its outcome.
His call places the Inspector General at the center of a growing accountability debate over how sensitive criminal investigations should be conducted and supervised.
FOHRD says, legal proceedings would provide an avenue for its concerns to be tested through the appropriate judicial process rather than solely through public statements.
Fangalo also called on the ruling Unity Party to distance itself from what he characterized as actions associated with Coleman.
The statement introduces a political dimension to FOHRD’s planned legal challenge, although the organization’s allegations concern Coleman’s conduct as a security official and would ultimately have to be substantiated through evidence and legal proceedings.
The Unity Party has not, in the material provided, been shown to have endorsed or participated in the alleged conduct.
FOHRD’s announcement now sets the stage for a potentially significant legal confrontation involving one of Liberia’s highest-ranking police officials.
The key issue will be whether the organization proceeds with a formal filing and, if so, what specific allegations and evidence it presents before the court.
For Coleman, any such proceedings would provide an opportunity to respond formally to the allegations and defend his record.
For the public, the case could become another test of Liberia’s institutional capacity to subject senior security officials to independent scrutiny when allegations of misconduct arise.
Until a court determines otherwise, the allegations against Coleman remain claims by FOHRD, not established findings of fact.
However, when contacted for comment, Liberia National Police (LNP) Spokesperson, Sam Collins challenged the Foundation for Human Rights Defense International (FOHRD) to substantiate its allegations.
Mr. Collins said the organization should identify the specific cases it believes were mishandled and provide evidence to support its claims.
“FOHRD needs to tell us the cases that have been mishandled, provide those pieces of evidence, and show how those cases have been or are being mishandled.
That is what we can respond to right now,” Collins said.
Addressing the ongoing drug-related investigations, Collins said, Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman remains engaged with other members of the joint security apparatus to ensure that investigations are properly conducted and suspects who are found culpable are brought before the courts.
“As for the drug case, the Inspector General remains focused on working along with other members of the joint security to make sure those who are involved in the process are given speedy trial and proper investigation,” Collins added.
He also cautioned against what he described as attempts to distract the police from carrying out its responsibilities, urging the public to rely on credible institutions as investigations continue.
“And we think, some of these calls are intended to distract the LNP from doing what is required of it. We call on members of the public, and the public in general, to remain focused and look up to credible institutions, like the Liberian National Police and other joint security institutions, as they go about investigating these cases,” Collins said.
“And we think, some of these calls are intended to distract the LNP from doing what is required of it. We call on members of the public, and the public in general, to remain focused and look up to credible institutions, like the Liberian National Police and other joint security institutions, as they go about investigating these cases,” Collins said.
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