By Benjamin Q. Z. Johnson
Monrovia-The Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Supreme Court of Liberia has recommended a six-month suspension from legal practice for Cllr. Benedict F. Sannoh and ordered him to refund US$2,500 to two complainants, Jallawelleh Kollie and Mywant Kollie, following an investigation into allegations of professional misconduct involving clients’ funds.
In a Communication dated October 28, 2026, Committee Chairman Cllr. Cyril Jones informed the complainants that the investigation into their complaint against the lawyer had been concluded and that the investigative report had been forwarded to the Supreme Court for consideration and further action.
The GEC investigation followed a series of hearings conducted between September 2024 and April 2026.
According to the Committee’s recommendations, Cllr. Sannoh should refund the full amount of US$2,500 to the two complainants and be suspended from practicing law in Liberia for six calendar months.
The Committee reportedly based its recommendations on an alleged violation of Rule 15 of Liberia’s Code of Moral and Professional Ethics of Lawyers, which governs the handling of clients’ funds and the professional obligations of attorneys.
Rule 15 prohibits lawyers from abusing the confidence placed in them by clients for personal benefit. It also requires attorneys to promptly account for money and property received on behalf of clients.
Additionally, the rule prohibits lawyers from mixing clients’ funds with personal money or using funds entrusted to them for unauthorized personal purposes.
However, the Committee’s recommendations are not necessarily the final disciplinary determination. The investigative report has been submitted to the Supreme Court, which is expected to consider the findings and determine what action, if any, should be taken against the lawyer.
The case raises renewed questions about professional accountability, ethical compliance and public confidence in Liberia’s legal profession, particularly concerning the responsibility of lawyers to protect and properly account for funds entrusted to them by clients.
The Supreme Court’s final determination will establish whether the recommended suspension and restitution will be imposed.
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