Liberia: Speaker Koffa, Allies Petition Supreme Court Over Alleged Constitutional Violations by House Majority Bloc

Monrovia – Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his allies have petitioned the Supreme Court of Liberia to deal with what they describe as unconstitutional actions by a faction of the House of Representatives. The petition, filed on Thursday, is addressed to the complete bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]

The petition accused Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and different lawmakers, together with Representative Samuel Kogar, of convening unauthorized plenary classes, suspending lawmakers with out due course of, unlawfully restructuring statutory committees, and seizing management of the 2025 draft nationwide price range—all in alleged violation of Liberia’s Constitution and the House’s Standing Rules.

Key Allegations

Unauthorized Plenary Sessions
Speaker Koffa and his allies argue that the respondents convened plenary classes with out the Speaker, the constitutionally mandated presiding officer underneath Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution. According to the petitioners, these classes undermine the Speaker’s authority and violate House Standing Rule 10, which grants the Speaker unique powers to name and preside over classes.

Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution mandates that the House of Representatives shall elect, as soon as each six years, a Speaker who shall function the presiding officer of the physique, a Deputy Speaker, and such different officers crucial for the right functioning of the House. The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and different elected officers could also be faraway from workplace for trigger by way of a decision handed by a two-thirds majority of the House members. While Rule 10.1 states: “When the office of the Speaker becomes vacant due to removal, death, resignation, inability, or other disabilities, the Deputy Speaker shall act as Speaker until a new Speaker is elected within sixty days. When the Speaker is absent from a session, the Deputy Speaker shall act in accordance with Rules 8.1 and 8.2. In the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, a member of the House, as elected by the House for that purpose, shall preside. Such a member shall be known as ‘Speaker Pro-Tempore.’”

Speaker Koffa and colleagues contend that no emptiness has occurred within the Speaker’s workplace to warrant such actions and that the Majority Bloc’s actions undermine the established procedural framework of the House.

Suspension of Lawmakers Without Due Process
The petitioners allege that Representatives Edward Flomo (District 13, Montserrado County), Abu Kamara (District 15, Montserrado County), and Marvin Cole (District 3, Bong County) have been suspended arbitrarily and with out adherence to due course of. They declare the suspensions violated Article 20 of the Constitution, which ensures due course of, and House Standing Rule 48, which outlines procedures for disciplinary actions.

Illegal Restructuring of Committees

The petition additionally accuses the bulk bloc of unlawfully restructuring statutory committees. According to Speaker Koffa, the reconstitution of those committees ignored the required two-thirds approval of the House membership, as mandated by legislative guidelines. Additionally, the appointments made by the Speaker for three-year phrases have been disregarded.

Seizure of the 2025 National Budget

The petitioners contend that Deputy Speaker Fallah and Representative Kogar unlawfully seized the 2025 draft nationwide price range, submitted by President Joseph Boakai, which was addressed to the Speaker because the presiding officer of the House. This act, they argue, undermines the Speaker’s authority and violates established legislative protocols.

Legal Basis

The petition invokes Article 6 of the Constitution, which designates the Supreme Court as the ultimate arbiter in constitutional disputes. It additionally cites Chapter 2, Section 2.2 of the Judiciary Law, granting the Court jurisdiction over extraordinary writs.
In addition, the petitioners allege that the respondents’ actions contravene Article 49 of the Constitution, which defines the Speaker’s authority, in addition to a number of provisions of the House Standing Rules.

Relief Sought

The petitioners are requesting the Supreme Court to declare the respondents’ plenary classes unconstitutional and nullify all selections made therein, reinstate the suspended lawmakers and rule their suspensions as unconstitutional, nullify the restructuring of statutory committees, declare the seizure of the 2025 draft nationwide price range illegal and reinstate the Speaker’s authority over price range deliberations.

Background

This petition comes amidst a deepening division throughout the House of Representatives. On Thursday, the Majority Bloc adopted a decision calling for the elimination of Speaker Koffa and introduced the election of Representative Richard Nagbe Koon (District 11, Montserrado County) as their new Speaker.

Operating outdoors the principle chamber, the bloc has been holding parallel classes within the joint chamber of the Capitol Building. They accuse Speaker Koffa of battle of curiosity and corruption, asserting that he has misplaced their confidence and may not preside over the House.
Observers say this authorized battle may have far-reaching implications for Liberia’s legislative governance and constitutional integrity. The Supreme Court’s ruling will probably set a precedent for resolving inside conflicts throughout the legislature, significantly concerning the steadiness of energy and adherence to procedural norms.
The nation now awaits the Supreme Court’s intervention to make clear the constitutional boundaries and guarantee stability inside considered one of its most important democratic establishments.