Monrovia — The Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives, led by Representative Richard Nagbe Koon, has formally filed a petition for reargument before the Supreme Court of Liberia.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The petition, filed Friday and endorsed by Counsellors Albert Sims and Varney G. Sherman, seeks to overturn the Court’s April 23 judgment, which declared that all legislative actions taken without Koffa presiding were unconstitutional.
Koon, who has declared himself Speaker, had earlier rejected the Court’s ruling in a strongly worded statement. He described the decision as a “flagrant violation” of the separation of powers and accused the Court of overstepping its bounds by interfering in internal legislative matters. “There is absolutely no legal efficacy or factual basis of Your Honors’ mandate that Hon. Koffa continues to be Speaker,” he asserted.
In their petition Friday, the Majority Bloc argues that Speaker Koffa was lawfully removed through a resolution passed by over two-thirds of the House, in line with Article 49 of the Constitution and the House’s Standing Rules.
The lawmakers claim the Supreme Court overlooked crucial facts, including the lack of quorum on Koffa’s side and the alleged obstruction that prevented them from using the main chambers, which forced them to meet in the Joint Chambers.
The petitioners contend that the Court wrongly focused on the venue of the session rather than the presence of a quorum and the legality of their actions. They warn that the Court’s ruling could nullify significant legislative decisions, including the 2025 National Budget, which had earlier been praised by the Judiciary for addressing funding needs.
They are asking the Court to re-docket the case, recall its opinion, and affirm that the decisions taken under Koon’s leadership are constitutional and valid.
The legal showdown has sparked broader political tensions. In a national address on Thursday, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai appeared to side with the Majority Bloc, saying his administration would continue working with what he termed a “functioning quorum” of the House to keep the government running.
“Fellow Liberians, our Constitution and the Supreme Court have defined what constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business in the Legislature. We intend to vigorously uphold this vital principle of our constitutional democracy,” Boakai stated.
President Boakai’s stance has triggered backlash from the opposition. Four political parties—the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), and the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC)—held a joint press conference on Friday warning of nationwide protests if Boakai does not retract his statement by Tuesday.
Political activist Mulbah Morlu, leader of the STAND movement, joined the opposition chorus, accusing the president of undermining the judiciary. Though the main political leaders were not present, the event was marked by the appearance of high-profile figures including former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and ex-Representative Acarous Moses Gray.
