Nimba County District 7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility has strongly opposed efforts by the Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives to suspend him over his continued absence from plenary sessions.
His response comes amid a deepening leadership crisis that has disrupted legislative activities since the arson attack on the Joint Chamber.
Alongside Grand Kru County Representative Fonati Koffa, Bility has been notably absent from plenary sessions at Monrovia City Hall, where lawmakers have been meeting temporarily. However, he attended the opening ceremony of the second legislative session.
House Rule 21.1 mandates that no member shall be absent from sessions for more than two weeks without formal approval. The rule states that violations will be met with penalties determined by House leadership in consultation with plenary.
Seven lawmakers have already been suspended for various infractions, including participation in the controversial Majority Bloc session held in the Joint Chamber. The move to suspend Bility reflects the ongoing internal power struggles within the House.
The crisis escalated further on Tuesday when Majority Bloc members were forcibly evicted from the Speaker’s office, an action Bility has strongly condemned. In response, he has vowed to take legal action against Representative James Kolleh, Chairman of the Rules, Order, and Administration Committee, who has been leading the enforcement of suspensions.
“Finally, we wish to inform Mr. Kolleh that we will take legal action against him. He will face the full weight of the law for his violent, unlawful, and uncivilized actions,” Bility declared on social media.
Kolleh, in turn, accused Bility of neglecting his legislative responsibilities while continuing to collect his salary and benefits. “Bility does not attend work but constantly inquires about his salary and benefits,” Kolleh asserted, arguing that lawmakers must be held accountable to their constituents.
As tensions mount, Bility has urged his colleagues in the Majority Bloc to recognize what he claims is a legal reality—that the House cannot function without a duly elected Speaker. He cited a statement by Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, which he argues provides legal clarity on the matter.
“We sought the court’s interpretation of its ruling, and on Monday, February 10, in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, through Justice Gbeisay, we received that clarity. While he spoke without the full bench, his statement still holds weight as one of the Justices who signed the very opinion governing our current situation,” Bility stated.
He further challenged the authority of the Majority Bloc, asserting that while they may hold numerical dominance, their actions remain illegal under the Supreme Court’s ruling.
