-As It Schedules A Conference For Next Week Tuesday
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – November 22, 2024 – The Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia has ordered the House of Representatives to return to the status quo ante, which refers to restoring the situation at the House to its previous state before actions by the self-styled “Majority Bloc” were taken.
This comes as part of a hearing scheduled for November 26, 2024, to address the constitutionality of certain actions taken by the self-styled “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives. The case will be presided over by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh and Associate Justices JameSetta L. Wolokolie, Yussif D. Kaba, Yamie Quiqui Geisay, and Ceaineh D. Clinton-Jonson.
“YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to instruct the Minister of Justice and their returns
referenced Members of the House of Representatives to file their OFFICIAL RETURNS to this Writ in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court on or before the said 26 day of November A. L, 2024; and have the Members of the House of Representatives RETURN TO STATUS QUO ANTE and STAY ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OR ACTIONS
PENDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE MATTER,” the official writ issued Friday states.
Moreover, Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshal of the Supreme Court, was directed to notify the Minister of Justice/Attorney General to appear before the full bench of the court. The Minister is required to file returns regarding the petition submitted by the plaintiffs, who are challenging the actions of some members of the legislative body.
The court has also instructed that all proceedings or actions related to the matter be stayed pending the court’s determination.
In addition to notifying the Minister of Justice and the affected legislators, the Marshal is required to ensure that a copy of the writ is served to them.
The writ also mandates that the members of the House of Representatives involved in the case file their official returns by the specified date. The official hearing is set to begin at 9:00 AM at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The Impasse
On October 17, 2024, a faction of 47 members from the House of Representatives introduced a resolution to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his position. Since then, the situation has gotten complex.
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11 was elected and inducted as the “new Speaker” of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia. This decision was made by approximately 50 members of the Majority Bloc, who convened to endorse a resolution that removed Koffa from his position and declared the speakership vacant.
Koon’s election took place on a white ballot on Thursday, November 21, 2024, just minutes after the resolution was passed. In a counter-response to his election and subsequent induction, several lawmakers from Koffa’s faction, who initially supported the resolution for his removal but later retracted their signatures, condemned the Majority Bloc’s actions as illegal. During a press conference today, these lawmakers threatened legal action against the Majority Bloc, revealing that they have already consulted with their lawyers regarding the matter.
The Removal Attempt
The Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives on Thursday, November 21, 2024, officially voted to remove Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa from his position as Speaker of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia. The resolution was supported by 50 representatives, according to the Bloc.
The resolution was read aloud during a session on Thursday by Acting Chief Clerk Comic Chea, following a motion introduced by Representative James Kolleh of Bong County. The Bloc’s decision comes in the wake of a specialized committee’s report, which recommended that Koffa’s position be declared vacant due to his failure to respond to serious allegations raised by six lawmakers within the bloc.
Heading for failure?
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) released its fiscal year (FY) 2025 country scorecards, which revealed that Liberia met 11 out of 20 indicators. However, the country faltered in the area of Rule of Law, alongside eight other indicators
Following this, many argued that the report coincides with growing discontent among Liberians, who are expressing their frustrations over what they perceive as a blatant disregard for the constitution and the rule of law by certain lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
