The House of Representatives has finally suspended Montserrado County District 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah for 16 session days without salaries, allowances and other benefits.
For what his colleague termed as Yekeh’s continuous invectives against the Liberians Presidency and others, the House took the decision yesterday following a report from its Committee on Rules and Order.
The committee’s recommendation to suspend the Montserrado County lawmaker according to the report falls in line with for his deliberate refusal to subject himself for investigation.
Following the reading of the committee report, Yekeh openly apologized in saying, “Whatsoever that I have said, whether insult or not, I take it back and I want to say that I am sorry.”
Minutes after his apparent belated apology, the House received a simple majority vote of 18 persons, four against and no abstention through a motion filed by Nimba County Representative, Samuel Kogar with an amendment by Mont. County District 8 Representative Moses Gray thereby effecting Yekeh’s suspension.
The plenary’s decision was however trigged by a communication from Montserrado County District 5 Representative, Thomas Fallah craving the indulgence of that august body to take some legislative action against their colleague for his alleged unruly behavior.
According to Rep. Fallah, his decision to complain his colleague was to maintain the sanctity and prestige of the House which should be showcasing the integrity of its members.
He further clarified that his decision was not political a witch-hunt against Rep. Kolubah as being spewed in the public, adding, “This decision is to see to it that our colleague refrains from his habit or attitude.”
On March 25, his colleagues took an action to suspend him for 30 working days without salaries, allowances and other benefits but following their decision, the Montserrado County lawmaker filed a complaint to the Supreme Court praying for a Writ of Prohibition on grounds that his colleagues had violated his constitutional rights and their own rules regarding due process.
On April 22, a conference was called by the Justice in Chambers between the House of Representatives and Rep. Kolubah and at that hearing, Associates Justice Joseph Nagbe instructed the House to lift the suspension imposed on their colleague until he can be accorded due process in keeping with their standing Rule 48.4.