The Louis Arthur Grimes School at the University of Liberia since its establishment been credited for ensuring standards and quality education. The school is among the few Law schools in Africa that demand first degree from those wanting to enroll in its programs.
The Louis Arthur Grimes School has produced some of the country’s best lawyers including former Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele, late Senate Pro Tempore Charles Brumskine, late Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis, Senator Varney Sherman, and many others.
But over the last few weeks, the school’s reputation has come under serious scrutiny following accusations of academy fraud.
A professor at the school Cllr. Francis Johnson-Allison took to social media to express her anger at the university administration for allowing students Alimatu Nuiri and Ebenezer Wilson to graduate despite informing the authority that they didn’t meet the requirements.
“What does it say about Liberia’s modern-day education system when the Nation’s highest institution of learning condones academic fraud by graduating students who did not meet the requirements for graduation but who used the money to influence the professor’s secretary to change their failing grades to passing grades in order to graduate even when this was brought to the attention of the authorities? Truly, the education system is at its lowest ebb. So what kind of lawyers do we expect Alimatu Nuiri and Ebenezer Wilson to be? An addition to the integrity deficit or what” Allison a former National Elections Commission chair wrote on her Facebook page on June 7, 2023
A week later Madam Allison wrote the dean of the Law School Cllr. Jallah Barbu announcing her resignation. She indicated in her letter that she was disappointed to hear that the University Faculty Senate has decided to graduate the students in question despite her testimony to them on a conference call.
“Based on this fact, I have decided to reinstate my resignation from the law school since it seems that the university is more interested in graduating students than pursuing academic excellence and integrity,” she said.
Allison, accused Alimatu Nuri Hutchinson and Ebenezer Mass Wilson of conniving with her secretary, Allen Toe, to change their “D” grades to “C,” which paved the way for their graduation during the university’s just-ended convocation.
Hutchinson and Wilson have, however, denied failing Allison’s Children’s Law course at the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School, even though Allison, who was in the U.S. on vacation, insists that they failed.
Another Professor gone
Just over a week after Professor Allison resigned, another lecturer at the school Assistant Professor Lucia Diana Sonii has also tendered her resignation.
Assistant Professor Sonii said she was resigning due to event involving the unilateral change of final grades of Applied Legal Studies II a course taught by her, the arbitrary clearance of students who failed the course for graduation, and the failure of the University Authority to investigate the matter has requested by her.
“I sincerely thank the immediate past Dean of the LAGSL for affording me the opportunity to instruct and serve as the youngest Assistant Professor of Law at the LAGSL from 2001-2023. Within the two and a half years of service, I was delighted to have impacted and shared my knowledge of the law with 97 students whilst instructing the courses of Labor Law, Legal Methods, and Applied Legal Studies II. The experience has been meaningful in the truest of sense. Notwithstanding, we must disengage at this time when the system shows little or no interest in ensuring academic excellence and upholding integrity” Assistant Professor Lucia Diana Sonii said.
UL responds
The UL has not responded to Assistant Professor Lucia Diana Sonii claims, but in response to Cllr. Allison, the University claimed that the allegations against Hutchinson and Wilson were never formally communicated, but an investigation was carried out before allowing the accused to graduate.
“On the issue of Prof. Johnson-Allison, we looked at the pros and cons, and in the wisdom of the school and the university, we gave the benefit of the doubt to the students, and we went ahead to graduate those students, and we stand by their graduation,” We don’t use Facebook to do the University business. You have to understand this, and Cllr. Johnson understands the rules of engagement at the law school and the university,” said Dr. Julius Nelson, President of the University Liberia at a press conference
Dr. Nelson said Professor Allison failed to file a former complaint before the appropriate committee and until that is done, she has no issue with the students.
But the latest resignation on the same matter places the integrity of The Louis Arthur Grimes School noted for being a straightforward institution for many years into question and raises debate as to how the most powerful Louis Arthur Grimes go to this point.
Bar announces investigation
The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), has expressed serious concern over accusations of the change of grades at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law (LAGSL) at the University of Liberia leading to the graduation of some students who have failed some courses.
The LNBA through its Secretary General Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah promised to advance recommendations without fear or favor to safeguard the reputation of the institution.
Cllr. Varmah told OK FM Morning Rush Show Tuesday, June 27, 2023, that the constitution of the LNBA automatically declares students and graduates of law as associate members and as such, the Bar takes a keen interest in weighing the matter.
The LNBA secretary disclosed that the LNBA has spoken with all those involved, including the accused graduates, the UL administration, the Dean of the Law School, and the resigned Professors.
“The Bar is much disturbed about the events coming from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. The Law School remains the proud of the legal profession in Liberia and in consistent with the constitution of the LNBA, students of the law School are considered associate members of the Bar. So, we are concerned about everything that has evolved over the period at the Law School” he said
He detected that the latest issue confronting the LAGSL has become very difficult that the Chief Justice of Liberia has also expressed concern over the matter.
The LNBA secretary mentioned that the Bar will give a definite position on the matter as soon as possible.
Counselor Varmah averred that the Bar, through its President Counselor Sylvester D. Rennie and the National Executive Council, discussed the issue very carefully at its just-ended session to come up with a report on the saga.
According to him, the Bar’s understanding and position on the matter will help provide a determination to protect the integrity and name of the school.
