By Comfort M. Johnson
MONROVIA, April 23 (LINA) – The Supreme Court of Liberia has heard the amended Bill of Information filed before it by the House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, declaring the actions of the ‘majority bloc’ led by Representative Richard Koon as unconstitutional.
The court said in its Wednesday, April 23, 2025 ruling that any actions by the ‘majority bloc’ is a violation and they should act in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In its ruling, the court cited that the actions on the part of Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah to presıde over a session in the presence of the sitting Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, when he was not out of the country, is totally in violation of the law.
Key to its Wednesday’s ruling, the Supreme Court through Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh reaffirmed its rulings of December 6, 2024, in which it declared that any actions taken by members of the legislature that do not comply with Article 33 and 49 of the constitution are considered ultra vires.
Additionally, the court reminded the ‘majority bloc’ that the removal of Speaker Koffa by them was in violation of the constitution and the law thereby mandating the Clerk of Court to inform the parties of the Court’s decision.
The current leadership fracas at the House of Representatives comes against the backdrop of growing tension caused by members of the ‘majority bloc’ following their open rebuke of Koffa’s position as Speaker.
They cited dissatisfaction with his leadership – alleging corruption and further contending that Koffa was not effectively representing their interests and that his leadership style was not conducive to productive governance.
Additionally, the ‘majority bloc’ raised concerns and allegations about misconduct and marginalization by Koffa, as a result, they opted to remove him from his position.
However, amid the allegations and subsequent election of a Representatıve Rıchard Koon as Speaker, Koffa took flight to the Supreme Court on grounds that his accusers did not follow the right procedure in ousting him as Speaker.
