Liberia: Plan to Unseat Speaker Koffa Backfires As Lawmaker Admits to Accepting US$15K Bribe
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Thursday, October 17, was a day of drama on the Capitol as a gaggle of renegade lawmakers tried to take away House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, however their efforts have been met with robust resistance from pro-Koffa lawmakers, leading to violence and chaos.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald, [email protected]
The joint chamber erupted into pandemonium as rival teams clashed. A gaggle of lawmakers had signed a decision to take away Speaker Koffa from workplace, accusing him of serving as authorized counsel for main concessionaires in Liberia, a transfer they declare violates the Constitution.
The lawmakers got here from numerous political events, together with the ruling Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), to which Speaker Koffa belongs. The petition was learn by Rep. Nyan Flomo (District #2, Nimba County) outdoors the Capitol Building, after the chamber was shut down by pro-Koffa lawmakers led by Rep. Marvin Cole.
Pay-for-Play Allegation
The scenario took a shocking flip when one of many dissenting lawmakers, Rep. Luther Collins (Gbarpolu County), confessed that he and different signatories have been bribed with US$25,000 every to assist the decision, with US$15,000 paid upfront. Displaying a big sum of money in a video, Rep. Collins mentioned he joined the group solely to reveal their corrupt plan. He claimed no intention of supporting the Speaker’s removing.
In the video, an aide who joined Collins referred to the anti-Koffa lawmakers as “rebels,” additional revealing that the plan was orchestrated by Hon. Thomas Fallah and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who opposed an audit initiated by Speaker Koffa. The aide mentioned, “This is the rebel group listing. We were called by them to make sure that Hon. Luther (Collins) signed on the listing and they were able to give him 15,000USD. Based upon that, we arrived on the scene and found them and were able to get the listing from them. They gave each person US$15000 at the end of the day after the process they gave you the balance 10,000USD. This is the list of lawmakers that signed to illegally remove the Speaker. This is the money and Rep. [James] Kolleh took US$200 from it… This has been sponsored by Hon. Thomas Fallah and VP Jeremiah Koung. They are against the audit of the House.”
More Withdrawals
The bribery allegations led to additional withdrawals of assist. Rep. Thomas Goshua (District #5, Grand Bassa County) publicly withdrew his signature, citing the Speaker’s efforts to audit the House of Representatives as the true purpose behind the push for his removing. “This audit is a crucial step toward transparency and accountability,” Rep. Goshua mentioned.
Rep. Prescilla Abram Cooper (District #5, Montserrado County) additionally withdrew her assist, stating that when she signed the petition, she believed due course of can be adopted. However, the occasions that unfolded have been removed from honorable. “I cannot be part of any hostile takeover, especially with rumors of bribery,” she mentioned in a Facebook submit.
Members of the House of Representatives have the rights and authorized powers to take away a Speaker … however for “cause”, after “due process of law.’ But when said removal process is marred by alleged bribery, and said “bribery” is uncovered as seen on this video, then it requires prison investigation by the Justice Ministry and or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to authenticate the veracity of the “bribery” declare… As a Senator and a citizen, I’m involved concerning the “bribery” declare that runs afoul of our legal guidelines. It is a prison allegation in opposition to the STATE.
Darius Abraham Dillon, Senator, Montserrado County
Rep. Cooper burdened her dedication to good governance, legislative oversight, and transparency, including that she is disassociating herself from the decision.
She mentioned: “I’m as bold as can be, I stand up to anyone without fear or favor but when there are procedures to follow, those steps must be taken. Therefore, in view of the aforementioned, I Hon.Prescilla Abram Cooper, Representative of Electoral District #5, Montserrado County, do hereby officially withdraw my signature from the petition to effectuate the removal of Hon.Cllr J. Fonatee Koffa as Speaker of the 55th Liberia Legislature.”
Allegations of a Plot
Earlier, FrontPage Africa gathered that the hassle to unseat Speaker Koffa was allegedly led by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, Senator Prince Moye, and Vice President Jeremiah Koung. The push to oust the Speaker is reportedly linked to his insistence on auditing the House’s monetary administration.
Despite these allegations, Deputy Speaker Fallah has denied any involvement within the scheme and maintained that his relationship with Speaker Koffa stays amicable. He attributed the rising tensions to misinformation inside the CDC opposition and referred to as for peaceable decision of inside occasion disputes.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa, who was in Rome on an official go to as a part of a delegation led by President Joseph Boakai, is reported to have lower quick his journey and is predicted again in Liberia.
Calls for Bribery Investigation Intensify
Following Rep. Collins’ surprising confession, requires an investigation into the alleged bribery have intensified. Senator Darius Dillon voiced his issues on Facebook, stating that whereas lawmakers have the fitting to decide on their leaders, the bribery allegations have to be investigated.
This is the insurgent group itemizing. We have been name by them to make it possible for Hon. Luther (Collins) signal on the itemizing and so they have been in a position to give him 15,000USD. Based upon that, we arrived on the scene and located them and have been in a position to get the itemizing from them. They gave every individual US$15000 on the finish of the day after the method they provide the steadiness 10,000USD. This is the listing of lawmakers that signed to illegally eliminated the Speaker. This is the cash and Rep. [James] Kolleh took US$200 from it… This has been sponsored by Hon. Thomas Fallah and VP Jeremiah Koung. They are in opposition to the audit of the House.
Staff of Representative Luther Collins
“Members of the House of Representatives have the right to remove a Speaker, but when the process is marred by bribery, it becomes a criminal issue,” mentioned Senator Dillon. He urged the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to research the claims.
Many Liberians have expressed outrage over the alleged bribery, calling for additional investigation and potential sanctions for these concerned. On social media, some are urging the United States to intervene and take motion in opposition to any lawmakers implicated within the scandal.
Ex-President Weah Denounces Plot
Amid the unfolding political disaster, former President George Weah issued an announcement condemning the efforts to take away Speaker Koffa. He accused the Unity Party-led authorities, beneath President Joseph Boakai, of orchestrating a “criminal effort” to undermine democratic establishments by allegedly utilizing authorities funds to affect the Speaker’s removing.
Weah warned that such actions threaten the integrity of Liberia’s legislative course of and set a harmful precedent for governance.
History of Speaker Removal
This will not be the primary time lawmakers have sought to take away a Speaker from workplace. In January 2007, Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe was eliminated following bribery allegations, however the Supreme Court later reinstated him, ruling that the removing was unconstitutional.
Similarly, in 2016, Speaker Alex J. Tyler was ousted after 49 members of the House of Representatives signed a decision calling for his removing. The present House of Representatives has 73 members, and a two-thirds majority (49 lawmakers) is required to take away the Speaker beneath Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution.
Willie N. Tokpah contributed to this report.
