The Liberian Legislature resumes its January session today Monday amid mounting controversy in the House of Representatives, where a group of lawmakers is pressing for the removal of Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon.
Sources within the House confirm that at least 25 members of Koon’s majority bloc that ousted Representatives Fonati Koffa have signed a resolution demanding that Speaker Koon recuse himself from presiding until ongoing investigations into his conduct are concluded.
The lawmakers cite concerns over “integrity and accountability,” alleging budgetary mismanagement and personal scandals that have undermined confidence in his leadership.
Koon, who assumed the speakership following the resignation of former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, now faces a storm of allegations. Critics accuse him of depleting the House’s budget before the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
Others point to his ongoing divorce battle with his estranged wife, who has filed lawsuits against senior political advisor Macdelia Cooper, accusing her of attempting to break up their marriage. Video recordings of Koon appearing publicly with Cooper during a southeast tour have further fueled controversy.
Bong County Representative Josiah Marvin Coleman has emerged as one of the most vocal critics. Coleman alleges that Koon is linked to “Green Card fraud” in the United States, claiming the Speaker filed documents through his embattled wife. “A man with such character cannot preside over the first branch of government,” Coleman said, threatening a walkout protest if Koon remains Speaker during President Joseph Boakai’s upcoming State of the Nation Address.
The push to unseat Koon echoes last year’s revolt against former Speaker Koffa, who resigned under pressure from colleagues. Koffa later accused President Boakai of orchestrating his removal because of his affiliation with the Congress for Democratic Change, rather than Boakai’s Unity Party. The parallels have heightened speculation about political maneuvering behind the current campaign.
Despite the controversy, Koon has announced that the official ceremony marking the Legislature’s resumption will be held at Providence Baptist Church, the historic site where Liberia’s Declaration of Independence was signed on July 26, 1847.
Following the ceremony, members of both chambers will gather at the Capitol Building for the hoisting of the national flag and county flags before proceeding to their respective chambers for regular business.
The Liberian Constitution mandates that the Legislature convene twice annually: beginning the second working Monday in January and continuing until May, and again from the second working Monday in July through December. This year’s opening session, however, is overshadowed by the deepening crisis in the House.
Whether Speaker Koon can withstand the growing calls for his removal remains uncertain. With a significant bloc of lawmakers already aligned against him, the stage is set for another bruising battle over the leadership of Liberia’s first branch of government.
