A Supreme Court Judge’s decision not to stop a group of lawmakers Seeking to remove the Head of the House of Representatives from holding parallel session, has left the rebelling faction with a sense of legitimacy, while Speaker Fonati Koffa fights on.
Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Wednesday rejected a writ of prohibition aimed at halting actions by a faction of lawmakers to convene sessions outside the bounds of the law.
The dissenting lawmakers, although in the numerical lead but are shay away from the two-third majority needed to remove the Speaker. The group’s chief strategy so far is to rival the Speaker’s authority in a separate chamber, hoping he could succumb to political pressure and quit.
The decision of the High Court Judge marks a critical moment in the tensions between the Speaker and a faction challenging his authority.
“By directive of His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr., Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby informed that the Justice has declined to issue the writ prayed for. Meanwhile, the stay order of October 25, 2024, is hereby lifted,” Justice Gbeisay’s ruling, conveyed by Supreme Court Clerk Cllr. Sam Mankilu, stated.
Speaker Koffa had requested the issuance of the writ to compel the dissenting lawmakers to return to session, but his request was denied leaving him to ponder further options and strategies to safeguard his gavel and keep the stability of the House.
This follows an earlier imposition of a writ that the rebelling lawmakers did not adhere to, leading to heightened tensions between the legislative factions.
Justice Gbeisay, however emphasized to lawmakers during a conference with the parties, the importance of due process, a fundamental requirement under Liberia’s jurisprudence.
The so-called majority bloc subsequently agreed to uphold due process in future sessions.
The leadership dispute appears to be reaching a decisive moment in the coming days as government’s paralysis looms.
Koffa has expressed his commitment to exploring additional legal avenues after Justice Yamie Gbessay’s ruling.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook account, Speaker Koffa acknowledged the court’s decision but emphasized that it does not limit his legal rights or his resolve to uphold the Constitution.
“I respect the ruling of Justice Gbessay, but it is crucial to understand that this outcome does not exhaust my legal options,” Koffa said.
“I am standing firmly on the side of the law and remain resolute in my duty to ensure that no group of members can subvert the Constitution of Liberia and the rules governing our esteemed institution.”
The Speaker insists that any moves made by this group threaten both the integrity of the House and the democratic processes that guide Liberia’s governance.
“I intend to take further legal actions in the coming days to assert our rights before the law,” Koffa stated, reinforcing his commitment to preserving constitutional order.
“Moreover, I want to make it unequivocally clear: I will not resign in the face of such callous disregard for the legal process.”
