Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, filed a Bill of Information to the Supreme Court, alleging deliberate violations of its December 6, 2024, ruling by members of the Executive Branch and a faction of the House of Representatives. This comes in the wake of an official notification from the Executive that state security assigned to the Speaker will be withdrawn effective tomorrow.
Speaker Koffa, addressing the situation, stated, “These actions from the Executive do NOT change the fact that I remain the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This further strengthens my resolve to uphold the Rule of Law and the Liberian Constitution.”
The Bill of Information, filed against Representative Richard N. Koon, purported Speaker of the House, and other respondents, including the Executive Branch represented by the Minister of Justice, seeks corrective actions from the Supreme Court regarding the alleged deliberate violations of the ruling and the wrongful interpretation of the judgment by the Minister of Justice, which Speaker Koffa claims facilitated the violations.
The conflict stems from the Supreme Court’s December 6, 2024, ruling regarding the constitutionality of actions taken by a self-styled majority bloc of the House of Representatives. The Court held that the actions, including the removal of Speaker Koffa and the purported election of Representative Koon as Speaker, were unconstitutional. The ruling reaffirmed that only the Speaker, or in their absence, the Deputy Speaker, is authorized to preside over House proceedings as stipulated by Articles 33 and 49 of the Liberian Constitution. Any actions taken by members of the Legislature outside these constitutional provisions were declared ultra vires or illegal.
In the Bill, Speaker Koffa and his allies accuse the respondents of deliberately ignoring the Court’s judgment, continuing unconstitutional practices, and misinterpreting the ruling to justify their actions. The document emphasizes that the Court’s judgment mandated compliance with the quorum provisions of Article 33 and the presiding officer requirements of Article 49, rendering all prior actions by the majority bloc null and void.
The withdrawal of state security further escalates the ongoing constitutional crisis, raising concerns about the separation of powers and the rule of law in Liberia. Analysts view the Executive’s actions as a move to undermine the authority of Speaker Koffa amid the power struggle within the Legislature.
This unfolding legal battle has significant implications for Liberia’s democracy, as it tests the Supreme Court’s ability to enforce its rulings and the willingness of political actors to respect the Constitution. Speaker Koffa’s statement underscores his determination to challenge what he perceives as an attack on the rule of law: “I remain resolute in upholding the Constitution of Liberia, no matter the obstacles.”
