-Law School Dux Denounces Fraud Allegations
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Izetta Jones Howe, the newly announced Dux of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia, has vehemently denied allegations of fraud leveled against her by exiled Liberian Martin Kollie. In an interview with WomenVoices on Sunday, Howe challenged Kollie to present his evidence publicly and noted that she remains proud of her academic accomplishments. “I am even more than proud,” she reacted to the claim.
Over the weekend, Martin Kollie took to his official Facebook page to contest the law school’s announcement naming Howe as the Dux, an honor bestowed upon the graduating student with the highest academic standing. Kollie alleged that a leaked dossier of documents pointed to what he described as “Alleged FRAUD,” suggesting that Howe’s position at the top of the class was illegitimate.
In his social media post, Kollie issued a firm demand to the university’s administration. “Breaking News!! The student announced as ‘Dux’ of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Izetta Jones Howe should NOT be the Dux,” his post read. “A dossier of documents has leaked (Alleged FRAUD). The University of Liberia has up to Monday to break silence.”
However, in her first response to the allegations, Howe said she is ready to clear her name and remained unshaken, choosing to let the facts speak for themselves rather than engage in a war of words before seeing the purported evidence.
“Good afternoon and thanks for reaching out. However, let’s wait for his evidence on Monday because I can emphatically tell you that he has nothing. He made an allegation against me without due diligence, so I’m awaiting his evidence before I can address this matter,” Howe said. She expressed disappointment in Kollie’s approach, emphasizing that a simple conversation could have clarified any misunderstandings.
Moreover, she criticized his decision to go public with the allegations without first reaching out to verify the information, a move she considers a breach of collegial respect and proper investigative procedure. “At least he should have reached out to me to ascertain as to whether or not this information is true,” she lamented.
The aspiring lawyer traced the origin of the allegations to a campus-based student group known as the “Noble Second Floor.” She accused members of the group of feeling entitled to the presidency of the class leadership and suggested that her success had become a target for their ire. According to Howe, the group has a history of attempting to tarnish the reputations of those they perceive as obstacles to their political ambitions on campus.
“They are surprised that the fact that I am president, I was able to excel or emerge as the top of the class,” Howe stated, pointing to a perceived bias against women who hold leadership positions while also excelling academically. She noted that her dual role as class president and academic leader seems to have unsettled those who doubted her capacity to manage both responsibilities effectively.
Reflecting on the allegations, Howe found them particularly baffling given her extensive and well-documented history of academic excellence, both in Liberia and internationally. She questioned the logic behind claims that she had bribed her way to the top or received undue favoritism from professors at the law school, asking rhetorically, “So all the professors there like me as well?”
A Decorated Academic Journey:
Before entering the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Izetta Jones Howe established herself as a scholar. She is a 2019-2020 graduate of Coventry University in the United Kingdom, where she earned a Master’s degree in Project Management with Distinction, placing her in the top tier of her class.
She graduated from Cuttington University in Liberia with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and a Bachelor of Science in Economics, achieving Cum Laude honors in both disciplines. Howe has also acquired several relevant professional certificates from institutions in England, the United States, and Liberia, underscoring her commitment to continuous learning.
Additionally, she currently serves as the President of the Law Students Association (LAWSA) at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, a role that requires balancing advocacy for her peers with her own demanding studies. Her leadership, however, is not confined to the law school campus.
Izetta Jones Howe also became the first female President of the Federation of African Law Students, a pan-African body that represents law students across the continent. Her leadership pedigree was evident earlier in her academic career when she served simultaneously as the president of the graduating class (Golden Jubilee) of Cuttington University in 2011 and as the President of the Cuttington University Students Union.
Howe suggested that her low profile on social media might contribute to the disbelief surrounding her success.”You know in Liberia we are not used to women excelling,” she observed. “Especially out of social media where most of the women people speak about here their lives are on social media. I don’t do social media. I am in the dark and improving myself.”
This detachment from the online world, she believes, makes it harder for some to reconcile her quiet dedication with her public achievements. She is confident that the dossier Kollie claims to possess will amount to nothing, as her record speaks for itself. “So what Martin said he has… am actually waiting for it. Nobody is waiting equal to me because I am not afraid. I know what I have done in school,” she asserted. TheUniversity of Liberia (UL) administration has yet to comment on the matter.
Martin Kollie is the founder of the Campaigners for Academic Crimes Court (CACC), a group known for scrutinizing academic credentials and professional achievements in Liberia. While he frames his work as a pursuit of accountability, critics accuse him of weaponizing these audits for personal profit or political leverage. They allege that he operates as a “hired gun” who targets the professional rivals of those who pay for his services.
