MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has issued a stay order directing the “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives to halt all actions and return to status quo ante while it reviews a petition filed by House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his allies.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
In a writ issued on Friday, the Court instructed the Minister of Justice and members of the House involved in the dispute to submit their responses by November 26, 2024. The Court also ordered the Majority Bloc, led by Montserrado County Representative Richard Koon, to cease all actions until the matter is adjudicated.
The injunction mandated Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshal of the Supreme Court, or his deputy, to notify the Minister of Justice and the referenced lawmakers to file their official responses. It said they must “appear and file returns on the side of the law before the Full Bench of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, Temple of Justice, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., as to whether or not the Petitioners’ Petition should be granted.”
The order further instructed the parties to “Return to status quo ante and stay all further proceedings or actions pending the determination of the matter.”
“You are commanded to read the original writ and leave a copy with them; and to file your official returns on the back of the original copy in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court by November 26, 2024.
Leadership Crisis Escalates
The House of Representatives has been embroiled in a bitter leadership conflict, splitting into two factions. The Majority Bloc, citing allegations of corruption, conflict of interest, and poor leadership, accused Speaker Koffa of ignoring their concerns.
The crisis escalated when the Majority Bloc, comprising a significant number of lawmakers, abandoned the main chamber and began holding sessions in the joint chamber. On November 21, 2024, the group controversially declared the Speaker’s seat vacant and elected Representative Koon as their new Speaker. They also dissolved committees formed under Speaker Koffa and appointed new ones.
Speaker Koffa and members of the Minority Bloc condemned these actions, arguing that no legitimate vacancy existed in the Speaker’s office to justify such moves. The Speaker and his allies subsequently filed a petition to the Supreme Court, asserting that the actions of the Majority Bloc violated the procedural framework of the House.
The court’s intervention marks a critical juncture in the ongoing leadership crisis, with the Supreme Court expected to determine the legality of the Majority Bloc’s actions.
This dispute has further deepened divisions within the House, raising concerns about its ability to function effectively amid the political turmoil.
