A coalition of Lawmakers at the Liberian House of Representatives have voted to remove Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa as Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
The group composed of 50 representatives took the decision Thursday, November 21, 2024, following the endorsement of a resolution to declare Koffa’s position empty whilst mentioning his alleged failure to appear before a specialized legislative committee to answer to allegations leveled against him.
Among others, the former Speaker is accused of budget manipulation and using his position to further his personal business interests.
The motion to adapt the resolution gives the ousted speaker a weeklong ultimatum to evacuate the office of the speaker while requesting the executive branch of government to withhold privileges and amenities associated with said post.
The endorsement of the resolution subsequently birthed a new speaker, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon to head that assembly for the next 5 years.
Koon was elected on white ballot Thursday in the joint chambers in a process presided over by deputy speaker, Thomas Fallah of Lofa County.
The removal of Koffa as speaker of that august body, is provided for by article 49 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia and rule 9.1 of the house of Representatives.
Article 49 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution states, “the House of representatives shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be presiding officer of that body, a deputy speaker, and such other officers as shall ensure the proper functioning of the house. The speaker, the deputy speaker and other officers so elected may be removed from office for cause by resolution of a two-thirds majority of the members of the house”.
Loyalists of Cllr. Koffa at a brief news conference on Thursday, told legislative reporters that they do not recognize the activities of their colleagues in the joint chambers while classifying their gathering as a mere meeting.
Grand Bassa County district 5 representative, Thomas Gosuah, informed journalists that some of the names on the resolution were rescinded and notarized thereby rendering the majority bloc Thursday’s decision invalid.
“Unfortunately, we just heard that our names were being called during their jungle justice style of speaker removal that is not in accordance with due process. We want to state here emphatically that what transpired in the joint chamber recently is unconstitutional”, Goauah explained.
He furthered, they have employed their team of lawyers to institute legal action against the decision.
He maintains, they stand with the speaker to defend the constitution of Liberia stating that due process was not accorded the then speaker.
Meanwhile, the ousted speaker has gone to the Supreme Court of Liberia seeking the issuance of a writ of mandamus to compel the respondents to perform their official duties by attending official legislative sessions as mandated by the Constitution of Liberia, the statutory laws of Liberia and the rules of the house of Representatives.
