– As his majority Bloc threatens impeachment against Justices
By Jerromie S. Walters
Liberia is teetering on the brink of a constitutional crisis as tensions between the legislative and judicial branches escalate following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the House of Representatives leadership dispute. The refusal of Montserrado County District #11 Representative Richard N. Koon and his self-styled “Majority Bloc” to comply with the Court’s order has exposed a dangerous rift in governance, raising concerns about the stability of the country’s democratic institutions.
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Liberia’s Supreme Court, in a decision read by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Young, declared all actions taken by the House of Representatives’ majority bloc unconstitutional if conducted without the elected Speaker presiding—unless the Speaker is formally absent or incapacitated. The ruling was intended to resolve a months-long political impasse that has paralyzed legislative functions and deepened divisions within the government.
CHAPTER VII, Article 66 of the 1986 constitution of the Republic of Liberia affirms the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional disputes, it says: “The Supreme Court shall be the final arbiter of constitutional issues and shall exercise final appellate jurisdiction in all cases whether emanating from courts of record, courts not of record, administrative agencies, autonomous agencies or any other authority, both as to law and fact except cases involving ambassadors, ministers, or cases in which a county is a party. In all such cases, the Supreme Court shall exercise originate jurisdiction. The Legislature shall make no law nor create any exceptions as would deprive the Supreme Court of any of the powers granted herein.”
However, Koon and his men have since refused to honor the Court’s decision, and in recent disclosure that they will not allow Speaker Koffa to preside over any Sitting or Meeting of the House of Representatives.“The Leadership of the House informs the
Liberian public that under no circumstance
shall Plenary allow Hon. Koffa to preside over any Sitting or Meeting of the House of Representatives-” Hon, Richard Nagbe Koon, via the House of Representatives Facebook page.
On Wednesday, Bong County District #2 Representative James Kolleh issued a warning to members of the Supreme Court bench, threatening possible impeachment proceedings. Rep. Kolleh’s remarks came in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa against the Majority Bloc and its self-declared Speaker, Richard Nagbe Koon.
His words: They are not to interfere. We don’t need their approval. We are a separate branch of government,” he declared. “We went to the Court in the spirit of collaboration, not submission. If that opportunity is going to be misused, let it be clear, we have our own authority. Just as the Court can rule, we also have the power to impeach.”
The Liberian government has welcomed the ruling and called on lawmakers to set aside political divisions and refocus on national development following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the House of Representatives leadership crisis.
To find a resolution to Liberia’s six-month legislative crisis, House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa on Wednesday pledged to bridge political divides following a landmark Supreme Court decision affirming his constitutional mandate.
Speaking from the Capitol Building hours after the ruling, Koffa called for unity and reconciliation. “Let us reason together,” he urged, referencing President John F. Kennedy’s call for civility in politics. He expressed willingness to reach out to key leaders such as Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Honourable Richard Nagbe Koon to establish a bipartisan committee, create transitional working groups to address the backlog of legislation and establish regular cross-party consultations.
A Crisis of Legitimacy and Governance
The standoff stems from a controversial leadership change on November 21, 2024, when Koon was elected Speaker in a disputed vote, replacing Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa. Koffa’s supporters allege procedural violations and constitutional breaches, branding the transition as fraudulent.
Since then, the “Majority Bloc” has taken aggressive measures, including: Suspending 16 out of 73 lawmakers, predominantly from the minority bloc, leaving thousands of citizens without representation, restructuring House leadership without consensus.
– Authorizing the forceful treatment of dissenting lawmakers, and orchestrating a break-in into Representative Yekeh Kolubah’s vehicle under Koon’s directives. The period of the dispute has also displayed an arson attack on the Capitol Building, which the Liberia National Police (LNP) confirmed was deliberately set.
Despite the Supreme Court’s earlier December 2024 ruling that the Majority Bloc’s actions were “ultra vires” (beyond legal authority), both the Executive Branch and the Liberian Senate endorsed Koon’s leadership on December 10, 2024, further entrenching the divide. Efforts by ECOWAS, the Inter-Religious Council, and other mediators have failed to broker a resolution. Meanwhile, former President George Weah, opposition leader Alexander B. Cummings, the Press Union of Liberia, and civil society groups have urged compliance with the Court’s decision to prevent further institutional breakdown.
Pundits say the Majority Bloc’s rejection of the judiciary’s authority marks a direct challenge to Liberia’s constitutional order. In their statement Wednesday, Koon’s faction dismissed the Supreme Court’s ruling as “an atrocious and audacious violation of the separation of powers doctrine,” asserting that their leadership is backed by a resolution from 50 lawmakers—exceeding the two-thirds constitutional threshold. Legal experts warn that continued defiance risks plunging Liberia into deeper instability, eroding public trust in democratic processes.
