Monrovia-The Leadership crisis at the House of Representatives is yet to be over, with Bong County District #7 Representative Foday E. Fahnbulleh strongly disagreeing with Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay’s recent clarification on the Supreme Court’s absence at President Joesph Boakai’s second State of the Nation Address as a liquor statement.
Representative Fahnbulleh, on both the Ok FM and during Plenary Session of the House of Representatives stated his displeasure with the assertion by Justice Gbeisay that the Associate Justice’s comments were inappropriate and lacked the professionalism expected from a judicial figure.
Stating his unreadiness to vote in Thursday’s Session at the Executive Pavilion on Broad Street, the Bong County lawmaker stressed that the House of Representatives would not abide by any statements that appeared to undermine the integrity of its members or the judicial system.
According to him, such assertion by Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay might be heard in a liquor shop rather than in a serious legal or political context.
Representative Fahnbulleh’s response prompted the Rule of Law Caucus to strongly reject such characterization of Justice Gbeisay that such clarification was in the legal interest of both parties.
Recently, during the opening of the court in Nimba County, Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay clarified the decision of the full bench of the Supreme Court for not attending the State of the Nation address by President Joseph Boakai something that created lots of criticisms.
He indicated that, “Sometimes ago when we did not turn out for the President’s address, it became more of a news than the address itself. That was a formal way of not getting involved in potential conflict. You remember the conflict going on at the House and it appeared before us. We made a decision. The effect of that decision was that, look, our law requires that the House will have a quorum, and that quorum should be presided over by a speaker. Now that you, the quote-on-quote Majority Bloc have a quorum,”
He furthered, “We don’t see a Speaker there. So, whatever you do is Ultra vires. We turned to the Minority Bloc and said minority bloc, the law says until you can get a majority, until you can get quorum, you should continue to adjourn day to day and compel the other people to join. But there is no statute to tell us how you will compel the other people. You don’t have a rule to tell us how to compel the other people, so, you too, will remain there until you get a majority. Whatever you do is ultra vires. So, to both sides, the Supreme Court was clearly saying go and solve your problem.”
Following the disagreement by the rule of law Caucus led by Representative Musa Bility on Representative Fahnbulleh’s assertion walked out of session at the Executive Pavilion on grounds that the majority bloc was illegally having a session with Richard Koon presiding as Speaker.
The Rule of Law Caucus Chairman, Nimba County District #7 Representative Bility, addressing the media after walking out of session vowed never to sit under the speakership of Richard Nagbe Koon.
The Rule of Law Caucus Chairman and members reaffirmed their commitment to stand with embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa in line with Associate Justice Yormie Gbeisay’s clarification on the Supreme Court ruling.
They called on their colleagues of the majority bloc including Representative Richard Koon to respect the ruling of the court in the interest of the country’s democracy and respect for the rule of law.
