TEMPLE OF JUSTICE: The Supreme Court of Liberia late Friday placed a stay order on all proceedings by the anti-Speaker Fonati Koffa’s group referred to as the “Majority Bloc”.
The order followed a petition filed by the Speaker, to the high court. The “Majority Bloc” is calling for his removal as speaker on what they said lack of confidence in his leadership. The write called on the “Majority Bloc” to stop all legislative proceedings until a conference is held on Monday, November 4, 2024 at the court.
This week, Speaker Koffa, a lawyer, told journalists that he would seek legal redress if the “Majority Bloc” refuses to convene in the Chamber under his authority. He said, he would resign if the opposing group number reaches 49 , which is required by law their rules. “Anything short of that, I will not resign. If they have the numbers to remove me, let them come in the Chamber and put it on floor for a vote. If they succeed, I will step aside, but if they fail, I will not step down.”
Earlier the number to oust him was 49 when he was away on a trip with the president of Liberia, Joseph Boakai. But upon his return, the number has reduced to about 43, making it difficult to remove him. Speaker Koffa has 30 members on his side.
Following that stalemate, the “Majority Bloc” has been holding meetings in the Chamber under a different leadership, headed by Representative Clarance Gar of Margibi County.
The Speaker said such meeting was unconstitutional. He has invited the “Majority Bloc” but have refused to attend. The “Majority Bloc” has written the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Fallah, to attend session or also risk removal along with the Chief Clerk of Court, madam Mildred Sayon. Fallah who was earlier accused of masterminding the removal of his boss. But he has denied and has been attending session with the Speaker. Both Fallah and Koffa are from the opposition political party, Congress for Democratic Change(CDC) headed by former president, George Weah.
Prior to the supreme court’s stay order , the Liberian Senate set up a mediation committee to probe into the issue. The outcome remains unknown.
