MONROVIA: The Full-bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia is expected to hear the Petition filed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa.
The Supreme Court, in a Writ issued on November 22, 2024, directed the Minister of Justice and members of the House of Representatives involved in the dispute to file their responses by today, November 26, 2024.
The Court also ordered the ‘majority bloc’, currently led by Montserrado County Representative, Richard Koon, to cease all further actions until the matter is resolved.
The leadership crisis escalated on November 21, when the ‘majority bloc’ controversially convened in the Joint Chambers of the Legislature, and declared the Speaker Koffa’s seat vacant, and subsequently selected Representative Koon as the ‘new speaker.’
The bloc cited dissatisfaction with Koffa’s leadership, accusing him of ignoring their concerns.
But in a swift response, Speaker Koffa dismissed the actions of the ‘majority bloc’ as unconstitutional and invalid.
“Nothing has happened,” Speaker Koffa declared in a Facebook post, vowing to remain in office. His allies condemned the move him, calling it a “mockery of democracy” and a blatant violation of constitutional and legislative norms.
Koffa’s legal team filed a petition with the Supreme Court on November 19, 2024, accusing the ‘majority bloc’, then, headed by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Fallah, of deliberately boycotting Plenary Sessions to paralyze the House of Representatives.
The petition argues that the boycott violates Article 33 of the Constitution, which requires a quorum for legislative proceedings, including the passage of the 2025 National Budget.
“The respondents’ refusal to attend duly convened legislative sessions has impeded the House’s ability to perform its constitutional duties, including the enactment of the national budget,” the petition reads.
The petitioners requested the Supreme Court to compel members of the ‘majority bloc’ to attend Plenary Sessions and to declare their actions unconstitutional. They further called for a review by the full Bench of the High Court, given the grave constitutional implications of the crisis.
