The Supreme Court of Liberia On Friday, October 25, 2024 issued a stay order on processes forming part of an attempt to oust House of Representatives Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, but it seems the high court’s order has no weight as anti Koffa lawmakers are determined to proceed.
The Justice-in-chambers Yamie Quigui Gbeisay instructed the Majority Bloc lawmakers opting to remove the speaker to abort all proceedings in the matter, citing them for a conference on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:00 AM.
The Chambers Justice order was in response to a petition filed by Speaker Koffa seeking a writ of prohibition against Representatives Samuel G. Kogar of Nimby County District #5, Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11, and other members of the Majority Bloc. The petition suggests that these representatives have acted outside the authority granted to them under the House’s Standing Rules.
The intent of the conference with Associate Justice Gbeisay is to decide the legality of the Anti Koffa camp’s action and set the rightful procedures thereto, as it is important to maintain order and adherence to legislative protocols during these proceedings.
However, one of the key proponents of the Anti Kofa Bloc of 43 lawmakers has told local media that they will continue with their proceedings on Tuesday, October 29, 2023 despite the Supreme Court’s order.
Representative Foday Fahnbuleh said they will read the Chambers Justice directive in Plenary and discuss it as they have the number required to conduct official business of the House of Representatives.
According to him, the Chambers Justice is acting outside of the constitution, thus they will host their session with Representative Clarence Garh serving as presiding officer.
Last week, the Speaker announced that he was getting the Supreme Court involved in the matter at the House of Representatives after an attempt to dialogue apparently failed.
It can be recalled that on Monday, October 21, 2024, after his return to the country from Italy along with President Joseph Boakai, Speaker Koffa said he will hold a meeting with those calling for his removal to begin a dialogue over the matter.
He said they are all one family at the House of Representatives but sometimes disagree and take notice of their actions, but at the end of the day the Liberians people are their highest responsibility.
The Speaker said because of Liberians, they are compelled to find a way to negotiate and apologize to their constituents who feel offended by the incident last week, or feel embarrassed by the lawmakers’ action.
A day earlier, Sunday, October 20, 2024, the bloc seeking to remove the Speaker said their decision remains unbending and is backed by what they described as Koffa’s failure to discharge his official duties in a manner that is fair, proper and impartial.
The matter further escalated on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, as majority members seeking to oust the speaker were seen in a separate session, while the minority bloc in favor of the speaker held another.
The majority bloc of 43 lawmakers presided over by Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Representative Clarence Gahr of Margibi County District #5 and Co-presided by Montserrado County District # 2 Representative Sekou Kanneh, met in the Joint Chambers of the Legislature, while the minority bloc’s session Chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah was held in the regular chambers of the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa’s minority block was unable to acquire 37 Representatives which constitutes a quorum as only 30 representatives were present in the chamber. Therefore, the bloc was compelled to postpone its session.
During that sitting, Nimba County Representative Musa Hassan Bility filed a motion to compel majority bloc lawmakers who didn’t attend to report on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The motion was unanimously voted in favor of.
Again on Thursday, October 24, 2024 the majority bloc was able to hold session, while Speaker Koffa’s bloc of 30 lawmakers were in their full number, yet could not do official business due to lack of quorum.
This led to Speaker Koffa, who is a renowned lawyer, to announce his next course of action which is to involve the Supreme Court of Liberia using Article 33 of the Liberian Constitution.
Article 33 states that “Simple majority of each House shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lower number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. Whenever the House of Representatives and the Senate shall meet in joint session, the presiding officer of the House of Representatives shall preside.”
In these matters, it seems that the Liberia people’s hopes are dwindling as their representatives have abandoned their cause for their own selfish ambitions. The House of Representatives is laterally shut down until this whole leadership crisis can be amicably settled, or if one side emerges victorious in the struggle.
