…As Pro-Koffa Bloc Takes Majority to Bloc S/Court
Liberia-The impasse in the House of Representatives over the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa is far from being over as the pro-Koffa group under the banner of minority bloc has taken the matter to the nation’s highest court-the Supreme of Liberia for
redress.
On Thursday, Speaker Koffa and a group of lawmakers from the minority bloc took their grievances to the Supreme Court of Liberia, accusing the majority bloc, led by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, of deliberately boycotting legislative sessions. This action,
they argue, has created a constitutional crisis by preventing the House from conducting
its mandated duties, including the passage of the National Budget for the 2025
fiscal year.
The petition, dated November 19, 2024, was submitted by Speaker Koffa and other members of
the minority bloc. In it, they alleged that the majority bloc has consistently
refused to attend plenary sessions despite being formally invited on multiple
occasions.
A notarized affidavit issued by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, which
confirms the majority bloc’s absence, was included as evidence in the petition.
“The respondents’ refusal to attend duly convened legislative sessions of the
Plenary of the House of Representatives has impeded, obstructed, and prevented
the House’s ability to carry out and perform its mandated constitutional and
legislative functions, including the enactment of the national budget into law
for the ensuing 2025 financial year,” the petitioners stated.
The petition also described the respondents’ actions as a violation of the Liberian
Constitution, statutory laws, and the Standing Rules of the House of
Representatives. They argued that Article 33 of the Constitution requires a
simple majority of lawmakers to be present to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. By failing to attend sessions, the majority bloc has
rendered the House unable to function.
“The deliberate refusal of the Respondents, who constitute the majority of the
membership, violates the constitutional quorum requirement of Article 33 and
prevents the House from the performance of its legislative duties,” the
petition reads. They pointed out that this has created a “constitutional
procedural impasse” that requires urgent resolution.
The legal team representing the petitioners, led by Counselors Arthur T. Johnson and
James E. Pierre have asked the Court to declare the majority bloc’s refusal to
attend plenary sessions as a violation of Article 33 of the Constitution and to
compel them to comply with constitutional mandates. Additionally, they
requested that the petition be forwarded to the full Bench en banc, citing the
gravity of the constitutional issues at hand.
The petitioners stressed the urgency of the matter, stating, “The Respondents’
actions have raised grave, urgent, and pressing constitutional issues which
have created a constitutional impasse requiring the immediate attention of and
resolution by the Bench en banc.” In their submission, they further requested
the Court to “order the Respondents to comply with the provisions of Article 33
of the Constitution, the statutory laws of the Republic of Liberia, and the
Standing Rules of the House of Representatives by attending plenary legislative sessions of the House of Representatives.”
Political analysts warn that the deadlock could disrupt government operations and public services, further eroding public confidence in the Legislature. The majority
bloc, which today endorsed a resolution to declare Speaker Koffa’s seat vacant,
has yet to formally respond to the petition.
