Anxiety mounts in Liberia as affluent individuals supporting a faction in the House of Representatives, intent on ousting Speaker Fonati Koffa, are reportedly engaging in frantic maneuvers to financially induce Supreme Court judges.
This alleged attempt to sway the judiciary comes amidst a backdrop of political turbulence and mirrors historical struggles over the independence and integrity of the nation’s legal system.
The tension within the House of Representatives dates back to mid October 2024 when a group of lawmakers unveiled a resolution seeking leadership change, accusing the Speaker of mismanagement.
Operating a parallel session, the so-called “Majority Bloc,” declared the democratically elected Speaker ousted and installed another Representative from their ranks as the new Speaker.
The Supreme Court through a hearing judgement deemed illegal the activities of the rebelling faction. Despite this ruling, the faction continues to operate with the backing of President Joseph Boakai’s administration and now fears that a final ruling stemming from Koffa’s bill of information could severely impact their positions and interests.
In a bid to secure a favorable outcome, it is alleged that wealthy supporters are attempting to influence the judiciary, throwing the integrity of Liberia’s legal system into question.
The Supreme Court has scheduled March 26 for argument into the Bill of information.
The High Court’s ruling on this matter is basically intended to reaffirm the principles of the rule of law in a country that has experienced significant challenges in its judicial and governance history.
The Chief Justice and Associate Justices are reportedly more concerned about the court’s reputation and its standing in the eyes of the public than they are about the short-term financial temptations that may be put forth.
This case has become a litmus test for the judiciary’s independence and its crucial role in upholding justice in a deeply polarized political climate.
The historical context of this crisis cannot be overlooked. Liberia’s judiciary has long been viewed with suspicion, particularly due to its past failures to deliver impartial justice.
Allegations of corruption and bias have marred its reputation, with critics pointing to instances preceding the civil war where judicial decisions contributed to the breakdown of law and order.
Any misconduct or misapplication of justice could further erode public trust in a system already under strain.
As discussions swirl around the potential for influence over the current case, the Chief Justice and fellow justices are well aware that their decision will not only impact the immediate political crisis but also the long-term standing of the judiciary in Liberia.
The importance of their ruling extends beyond this case. It is seen as a critical moment that will define the court’s credibility and its role in maintaining democracy and order in the nation.
The President’s backing of the Majority Bloc, despite its illegal status, has led to an alarming precedent where political interests are perceived to override judicial authority. This raises questions about the separation of powers and the judiciary’s ability to deliver justice impartially.
In light of these developments, legal experts and civil society groups are calling for transparency and accountability across the judicial system, urging the Supreme Court to remain steadfast against external pressures.
They emphasize that the integrity of the court must take precedence over individual interests, as the outcomes of these proceedings will echo throughout Liberia, shaping the future of governance and the rule of law.
Dateline:
Oct. 18, 2024: About 46 House Members signed resolution seeking the removal Speaker Fonati Koffa. They charged the Speaker with conflict of interest and unilaterally creating new committees and departments without the Plenary’s approval. On the same day the resolution was unveiled There was fistfight in the House of Representatives between rival factions. From this day the House split into two: majority and minority.
Oct. 22, 2014: forty-one House members seeking Koffa’s removal hosted a press conference to explain why they were taking such path. They said their decision stems from the Speaker’s failure to discharge his official duties in a manner that is fair, proper, and impartial.
Nov. 11, 2024 ECOWAS stepped in to mediate the political crisis with Parliament Speaker Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, expressing serious concerns over the impasse and warning that it could destabilize the region. She announced a five-member ECOWAS delegation will travel to Monrovia to initiate mediation efforts based on directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State.
Nov. 12, 2024: ECOWAS Parliament delegation arrived in Monrovia to media and foster dialogue between rival factions within the House and help restore unity.
Nov. 18, 2024: The Ibrahima-led delegation failed to resolve the stalemate after meeting with both parties and other high-profile national stakeholderS. It urged continued engagements in order to have the impasse settled the soonest possible time. The ECOWAS Parliament delegation met with key stakeholders, including President Joseph N. Boakai, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, and representatives from the Majority and Minority blocs of the House of Representatives. Despite extensive negotiations, the parties failed to reach a conclusive agreement.
Nov. 22, 2024: The House of Representatives split into two factions, each claiming its own Speaker. The Majority Bloc, which has been holding parallel sessions, elected Representative Richard Nagbe Koon (UP, District #11, Montserrado County) as their Speaker while the Pro-Koffa group continues to recognize J. Fonati Koffa as the rightful leader. As the crisis intensified several lawmakers who had earlier affixed their signature said they were not part of the process involving Koon’s election as their signatures were rescinded through notarized affidavits. These include Representatives. Matthew Joe (Grand Bassa), Thomas Goshua (Grand Bassa), Prescilla Cooper (Montserrado), Rep. Bintu Massalay (Grand Cape Mount), Rugie Yatu Barry (Montserrado) and Luther Collins (Gbarpolu).
Nov. 22, 2024: Speaker Koffa and allies filed petition With the Supreme Court complaining about “unconstitutional actions by a faction of the House of Representatives.”
The petition accused Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and other lawmakers, including Representative Samuel Kogar, of convening unauthorized plenary sessions, suspending lawmakers without due process, unlawfully restructuring statutory committees, and seizing control of the 2025 draft national budget in alleged violation of Liberia’s Constitution and the House’s Standing Rules.
Nov. 25, 2024: The Supreme Court of Liberia issued a stay order directing the “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives to halt all actions and return to the status quo while it reviews a petition filed by House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his allies.
Dec. 6 2024: The Supreme Court ruled that the self-styled “Majority Bloc” acted beyond its authority in recent decisions. The Supreme Court’s ruling, contained in a 34-page opinion, specifically interpreted Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution, simultaneously using the weight of the former to make judgment on the latter regarding the petition of Speaker Koffa and other Representatives, titled “In Re: The Unconstitutionality of Several Actions taken by Certain Members of the House of Representatives.”
The High Court ruled that the actions of the self-styled “majority bloc” to hold extra-plenary sittings in the Joint–Chambers of the Legislature are unconstitutional, though there is no enabling mechanism by which dissenting and absentee members with a presiding Deputy Speaker can be compelled by the legally seated minority to attend session under an assumed presiding Speaker. The Court found that the removal of the Speaker fell short of the constitutional requirements of a hearing judgment consistent with due process of law, similar to the case of the unconstitutional removal of Edwin Snowe as Speaker in 2007.
Dec. 10 2024: The Attorney General issued an opinion on the basis of the court ruling advising the President of the Republic of Liberia to that the Supreme Court did not say the ‘majority bloc’ acted unconstitutional or illegal in any of its decisions. “The Majority members of the House of Representatives met the constitution requirements explicated by the Court to hold session and take decisions consistent with the laws of the country and the rules of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Dec. 12, 2024: Koffa filed Bill of Information with the Supreme Court raising questions about adherence to the Liberian Constitution and compliance with the Supreme Court’s December 6, 2024, ruling. He complained that the Majority Bloc has deliberately violated the ruling, with the Executive Branch, represented by the Minister of Justice, contributing to the impasse through a “wrongful interpretation” of the Court ruling.
Dec. 12, 2024: Speaker Koffa disclosed that the Executive Branch has informed him of plans to strip him of his immunity and state security. “I have officially been informed that all state security will be withdrawn tomorrow,” Speaker Koffa said in a Facebook post. “These actions from the Executive do NOT change the fact that I remain the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This only further strengthens my resolve to fight for upholding the Rule of Law and the Liberian Constitution.”
Dec. 17, 2024: Tensions escalated in Monrovia as thousands of protesters gathered on Capitol Hill demanding a resolution to the political impasse in the House of Representatives. The demonstration, organized by the group Concerned Citizens for the Protection of our Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, called for an immediate end to the crisis that has gripped the legislature. Violence erupted when the Liberia National Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to several protesters.
Dec 18, 2024: The Capitol Building in Monrovia caught fire destroying vital parts of the parliament building. President Joseph Boakai condemned the “wanton destruction”. Named Speaker Koffa and key members of his bloc in the House as persons of interest. They have faced police questioning with no charge.
Jan. 6, 2025: A new bloc, the Rule of Law Caucus, comprising mainly House members backing the embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa emerged. The caucus unanimously elected Representative Musa Hassan Bility (District #7, Montserrado County) as its chairman.
Feb. 10, 2025: Nearly two months after the Supreme Court’s opinion on the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives was greeted with ambiguity and widespread controversy, a member of the High Court bench restated the Court’s ruling. Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay declared that the actions taken by the so-called “majority bloc” to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa and suspend other members were illegal.
Speaking at the opening of the February term of court in Sanniquellie , Justice Gbeisay said: “We made a decision and the effect of that decision was that our law requires that the house should have a quorum and that quorum should be presided over by a speaker. Now that you the quote-on-quote majority bloc have a quorum, but we don’t see a speaker there, so whatever you do is ultra virus. In other words, it is illegal.”
“We turned to the minority bloc and say minority bloc, the law says until you can get majority to get quorum, you must continue to adjourn from day to day and compel the other people to join. But there is no statue that is telling us how you will compel the people. You don’t have a rule that is telling us how you will compel the people. So you too you will remain there. Until you can get majority, whatever you do is ultra virus.
Feb. 11, 2025: During the morning hours of February 11, a group of persons under the supervision of Representative James Kolleh, Majority Bloc’s Chairman on Rules, Order and Administration, moved into the Capitol Building along with security officers and broke into the speaker’s office throwing out his belongings as he enforces eviction orders from the faction.
Feb. 15, 2025: Richard Nagba Koon, named the ‘ Majority Bloc’ Speaker claimed that the ruling Unity Party government toppled Speaker Fonati Koffa and installed him as head of the Legislature because the ruling establishment does not want an opposition member of the House to be Speaker. “Today, I’m the regime’s Speaker, he said.”
Feb. 25, 2025: ‘Majority bloc writes requesting the recall of three members of the House of Representatives on Liberia delegation to the ECOWAS parliament.
March 6, 2025: The Supreme Court of Liberia scheduled hearing into Speaker’s Bill of Information for March 14. The case is about the Majority Bloc’s alleged violations of the court’s December 6, 2024, ruling, and their refusal to comply with the court’s directives.
March 7, 2025: Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf warned that ambiguous Supreme Court decisions could further destabilize the legislature, urging the Court to provide a definitive resolution instead of leaving the matter in legal limbo.
“Now is definitely not the time for the Supreme Court to deliver an ambiguous ruling that may take us away from peacefully resolving the disruption unfolding in another important branch of government,” she said.
