By Precious D. Freeman
The political standoff within the House of Representatives has escalated, with lawyers representing Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Koon urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the Bill of Information filed by embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
The legal team also called for sanctions against Koffa and his allies, accusing them of obstructing legislative operations and violating constitutional principles.
In their formal response, submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday, March 14, 2025, Koon’s lawyers argued that the Court should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the House of Representatives.
They contended that such involvement would breach the doctrine of Separation of Powers enshrined in Article 3 of the Liberian Constitution.
“The Judiciary has its own rules and penalties governing the conduct of judges and lawyers who violate judicial canons. The Court’s involvement in the House’s internal disciplinary matters contradicts the constitutional separation of powers,” the lawyers stated.
The dispute stems from Koffa’s refusal to vacate the Speaker’s office after being removed from his position.
Koffa maintains that his removal was unconstitutional and has resisted attempts to force him out, challenging the Majority Bloc to use what he termed as the same “unconstitutional” process to evict him.
The respondents’ legal team countered that the office belongs to the Liberian government and that the government has the authority to reassign it to the current officeholder.
Koon’s lawyers also accused Koffa of violating ECOWAS protocols by appointing allies to the ECOWAS Parliament without proper elections by the House of Representatives.
Despite attempts by the respondents to rectify the issue, ECOWAS reportedly clarified that once representatives are sworn in, they cannot be replaced during their term.
Furthermore, Koffa was accused of displaying “dictatorial tendencies” and obstructing investigations into allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
The respondents further argued that Koffa’s actions have disrupted legislative proceedings and threatened the House’s functionality.
“Respondents have not violated the order or mandate of Your Honors’ Opinion and Judgment of December 6, 2024, in the Constitutionality Case. The Amended Bill of Information is meritless, unfounded, and frivolous. We therefore pray that the Court denies it,” the response read.
The Majority Bloc has called on the Supreme Court to issue a decisive ruling to prevent any further exploitation of judicial processes to undermine legislative operations.
With tensions high and the stakes growing, the Supreme Court’s ruling on this high-profile case is expected to have far-reaching implications for Liberia’s political stability and the doctrine of separation of powers which is the fundamental element for the governance of a democratic state.
