The Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Richard N. Koon, has defied a directive from Supreme Court Justice in Chambers, Ceaineh Clinton-Johnson, by failing to appear for a scheduled conference on March 19, 2025. The conference was set to address a petition filed by legal representatives of Chinese national Michael Shio, who sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to halt legislative interference in his case.
Justice Clinton-Johnson had scheduled the conference after issuing a writ of prohibition on March 11, 2025, barring the House from investigating the case involving Shio and Liberian national Momo David. The writ specifically instructed Speaker Koon to appear before the Justice in Chambers at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia at 10:30 a.m. on March 19. However, neither the Speaker nor any legal representatives from the House honored the directive.
Shio’s legal team, led by Cllr. Jimmy Saah Bombo, argued in their petition that the House’s involvement violated the sub judice principle, which prohibits legislative interference in ongoing judicial matters. The petitioners maintained that the House’s investigation was unconstitutional and an overreach of legislative authority.
The case at the center of the controversy stems from an incident on January 13, 2025, in which Momo David was allegedly detained and tortured by Shio after being accused of stealing a solar panel from his construction site. David was reportedly apprehended by security guards and taken to Shio’s residence, where he was allegedly subjected to severe abuse, including burns.
Following an investigation, Shio and his co-defendants were arrested on February 13, 2025, and charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Felonious Restraint. Initially remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison, they were later released on a criminal appearance bond. Due to its severity and jurisdictional requirements, the case was transferred from the Monrovia City Court to the First Judicial Circuit Court, Criminal Assizes A.
Despite the ongoing judicial proceedings, the House of Representatives summoned Shio for questioning on March 6, 2025, prompting his legal team to challenge the move at the Supreme Court. Justice Clinton-Johnson’s intervention effectively halted the House’s actions until the matter could be reviewed in the scheduled conference, which the Majority Bloc failed to attend.
Justice Clinton-Johnson has now ordered the conference to be rescheduled and reissued a directive for Speaker Koon to appear.
