The Supreme Court of Liberia has scheduled a ruling for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to address the longstanding impasse between the majority and minority blocs of the House of Representatives.
This follows a Bill of Information filed by the embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa against the junta-style Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. At 11 AM on Wednesday, the highly anticipated verdict will be delivered, determining who holds the legitimacy as Speaker. Both parties involved in the case have been informed of the ruling date.
There is widespread attention throughout Liberia as everyone awaits the Supreme Court’s decision, hoping it will resolve the confusion surrounding the speakership within the Legislature.
During the hearings on March 26, 2025, regarding the Bill of Information filed by Speaker Koffa, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh criticized the self-declared majority bloc. She told their lawyer, Cllr. H. Varney Sherman, that their numbers do not grant them the authority to usurp legislative leadership or bypass due process.
“Even if your clients number 100, they do not have the right to impose themselves as the majority bloc,” Yuoh asserted sharply during the proceedings. The case questions the validity of a parallel legislative leadership established by a group of lawmakers claiming to represent the majority.
“Though the Speaker may lack a quorum, that does not give you the right to declare yourselves the majority,” the Chief Justice emphasized. “Why did you appoint another Speaker while the elected Speaker remains in office?”
In response, Cllr. Sherman argued that even though Speaker Koffa was still in his position, the group conducted meetings and made leadership decisions in the presence of Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah.
This explanation, however, prompted further inquiries from the bench. “Does the law state that a group of lawmakers can hold sessions elsewhere while the elected Speaker is present and summoning them?” Chief Justice Yuoh asked pointedly.
Justice Yuoh also pressed Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson, the lawyer for the minority bloc, for clarification on any specific violations of the Supreme Court’s December 6, 2024, ruling by the majority bloc.
Cllr. Johnson maintained that the ongoing actions of the rival lawmakers, including conducting parallel sessions, defy the court’s authority and ignore the fact that Koffa remains the legitimate Speaker.
Chief Justice Yuoh clarified that the Justice Minister and Attorney General of Liberia have the legal responsibility to interpret the Supreme Court’s rulings to the President. She rebutted criticisms that the Justice Ministry had overstepped by interpreting the Court’s earlier decision regarding unconstitutional legislative actions.
“Where is the authority to stop the majority from doing what they are doing?” she asked rhetorically, noting that no law has been passed compelling lawmakers to attend a session called by either side.
The legal arguments highlighted confusion surrounding the purpose and scope of a Bill of Information. Under the Revised Rules of the Supreme Court, a Bill of Information is intended to prevent a judge or other individual from improperly executing the court’s mandate or interfering with its rulings.
Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard-Wolokolie reminded the lawyers that the Speaker has not been lawfully removed and emphasized the importance of adhering to constitutional procedures.
“Our rules are important to prevent chaos,” she stated, “The Constitution grants lawmakers the authority to elect and remove a Speaker, but they must follow the proper process.”
Justice Yusuf Kaba added a cautionary note: “The Speaker must be afforded due process.” He pointed out that while parliamentary systems may allow for a Speaker’s removal by a simple vote of no confidence, Liberia’s Constitution requires a two-thirds majority and a clear legal process to remove a sitting Speaker.
“We understand that a majority elected another Speaker,” Kaba said. “But the law outlines a procedure that must be followed.” The Supreme Court reserved its ruling on the matter for a later date, leaving the leadership standoff in the Legislature unresolved for now. Now that the date has been set, all eyes are expected to be on the Court next Wednesday as the situation unfolds.
