Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Thursday, October 17, was a day of drama at the Capitol as a group of renegade lawmakers attempted to remove House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, but their efforts were met with strong resistance from pro-Koffa lawmakers, resulting in violence and chaos.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald, [email protected]
The joint chamber erupted into pandemonium as rival groups clashed. A group of lawmakers had signed a resolution to remove Speaker Koffa from office, accusing him of serving as legal counsel for major concessionaires in Liberia, a move they claim violates the Constitution.
The lawmakers came from various political parties, including the ruling Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), to which Speaker Koffa belongs. The petition was read by Rep. Nyan Flomo (District #2, Nimba County) outside the Capitol Building, after the chamber was shut down by pro-Koffa lawmakers led by Rep. Marvin Cole.
Pay-for-Play Allegation
The situation took a surprising turn when one of the dissenting lawmakers, Rep. Luther Collins (Gbarpolu County), confessed that he and other signatories were bribed with US$25,000 each to support the resolution, with US$15,000 paid upfront. Displaying a large sum of cash in a video, Rep. Collins said he joined the group only to expose their corrupt plan. He claimed no intention of supporting the Speaker’s removal.
In the video, an aide who joined Collins referred to the anti-Koffa lawmakers as “rebels,” further revealing that the plan was orchestrated by Hon. Thomas Fallah and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who opposed an audit initiated by Speaker Koffa. The aide said, “This is the rebel group listing. We were called by them to make sure that Hon. Luther (Collins) signed on the listing and they were able to give him 15,000USD. Based upon that, we arrived on the scene and found them and were able to get the listing from them. They gave each person US$15000 at the end of the day after the process they gave you the balance 10,000USD. This is the list of lawmakers that signed to illegally remove the Speaker. This is the money and Rep. [James] Kolleh took US$200 from it… This has been sponsored by Hon. Thomas Fallah and VP Jeremiah Koung. They are against the audit of the House.”
More Withdrawals
The bribery allegations led to further withdrawals of support. Rep. Thomas Goshua (District #5, Grand Bassa County) publicly withdrew his signature, citing the Speaker’s efforts to audit the House of Representatives as the real reason behind the push for his removal. “This audit is a crucial step toward transparency and accountability,” Rep. Goshua said.
Rep. Prescilla Abram Cooper (District #5, Montserrado County) also withdrew her support, stating that when she signed the petition, she believed due process would be followed. However, the events that unfolded were far from honorable. “I cannot be part of any hostile takeover, especially with rumors of bribery,” she said in a Facebook post.
Members of the House of Representatives have the rights and legal powers to remove a Speaker … but for “cause”, after “due process of law.’ But when said removal process is marred by alleged bribery, and said “bribery” is exposed as seen in this video, then it calls for criminal investigation by the Justice Ministry and or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to authenticate the veracity of the “bribery” claim… As a Senator and a citizen, I am concerned about the “bribery” claim that runs afoul of our laws. It is a criminal allegation against the STATE.
Darius Abraham Dillon, Senator, Montserrado County
Rep. Cooper stressed her commitment to good governance, legislative oversight, and transparency, adding that she is disassociating herself from the resolution.
She said: “I’m as bold as can be, I stand up to anyone without fear or favor but when there are procedures to follow, those steps must be taken. Therefore, in view of the aforementioned, I Hon.Prescilla Abram Cooper, Representative of Electoral District #5, Montserrado County, do hereby officially withdraw my signature from the petition to effectuate the removal of Hon.Cllr J. Fonatee Koffa as Speaker of the 55th Liberia Legislature.”
Allegations of a Plot
Earlier, FrontPage Africa gathered that the effort to unseat Speaker Koffa was allegedly led by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, Senator Prince Moye, and Vice President Jeremiah Koung. The push to oust the Speaker is reportedly linked to his insistence on auditing the House’s financial management.
Despite these allegations, Deputy Speaker Fallah has denied any involvement in the scheme and maintained that his relationship with Speaker Koffa remains amicable. He attributed the growing tensions to misinformation within the CDC opposition and called for peaceful resolution of internal party disputes.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa, who was in Rome on an official visit as part of a delegation led by President Joseph Boakai, is reported to have cut short his trip and is expected back in Liberia.
Calls for Bribery Investigation Intensify
Following Rep. Collins’ shocking confession, calls for an investigation into the alleged bribery have intensified. Senator Darius Dillon voiced his concerns on Facebook, stating that while lawmakers have the right to choose their leaders, the bribery allegations must be investigated.
This is the rebel group listing. We were call by them to make sure that Hon. Luther (Collins) sign on the listing and they were able to give him 15,000USD. Based upon that, we arrived on the scene and found them and were able to get the listing from them. They gave each person US$15000 at the end of the day after the process they give you the balance 10,000USD. This is the list of lawmakers that signed to illegally removed the Speaker. This is the money and Rep. [James] Kolleh took US$200 from it… This has been sponsored by Hon. Thomas Fallah and VP Jeremiah Koung. They are against the audit of the House.
Staff of Representative Luther Collins
“Members of the House of Representatives have the right to remove a Speaker, but when the process is marred by bribery, it becomes a criminal issue,” said Senator Dillon. He urged the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the claims.
Many Liberians have expressed outrage over the alleged bribery, calling for further investigation and potential sanctions for those involved. On social media, some are urging the United States to intervene and take action against any lawmakers implicated in the scandal.
Ex-President Weah Denounces Plot
Amid the unfolding political crisis, former President George Weah issued a statement condemning the efforts to remove Speaker Koffa. He accused the Unity Party-led government, under President Joseph Boakai, of orchestrating a “criminal effort” to undermine democratic institutions by allegedly using government funds to influence the Speaker’s removal.
Weah warned that such actions threaten the integrity of Liberia’s legislative process and set a dangerous precedent for governance.
History of Speaker Removal
This is not the first time lawmakers have sought to remove a Speaker from office. In January 2007, Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe was removed following bribery allegations, but the Supreme Court later reinstated him, ruling that the removal was unconstitutional.
Similarly, in 2016, Speaker Alex J. Tyler was ousted after 49 members of the House of Representatives signed a resolution calling for his removal. The current House of Representatives has 73 members, and a two-thirds majority (49 lawmakers) is required to remove the Speaker under Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution.
Willie N. Tokpah contributed to this report.
