MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Full Bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia has reserved ruling in the case involving Speaker Koffa and the Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives, after entertaining arguments by lawyers representing both parties.
Cllr. Arthur Johnson, arguing before the Court on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, said:” The conduct of the self-styled Majority Bloc at the House to have conducted session and election is unconstitutional. The Stay Order placed on them with the mandate to return to status quo ante, was violated, and this action of the Majority Bloc represents an affront to the Court’s order.”
During the arguments proffered by Cllr. Johnson, he outlined jurisdiction, doctrine of the separation of powers, unconstitutional suspension of some members of the House, unconstitutional suspension of some members of the House, unconstitutional seizure of the National Budget by the Deputy Speaker, among others.
Cllr. Johnson said:” On the issue of jurisdiction, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction, Articles 2 and 66 of the Constitution, and Chapter 2, Sections 1,2.2 of the Judiciary Law, where separation gives the Judiciary the authority, designated by the Constitution.”
But, the lead lawyer of the Majority Bloc, Cllr. Varney Sherman, maintained that what transpired on Capitol Hill was legal and constitutional, noting that the Constitution gives them the power to remove the Speaker.
Cllr. Sherman said:” Several communications were written and addressed to Speaker Koffa about issues his colleagues raised, which he ignored.”
Meanwhile, Cllr. Varney Sherman told the Court that during his arguments, not to get involved in Legislative matters, based on the provision that said the House has separate and distinct power to remove the Speaker, and doesn’t want them to intervene by reinstating the removed Speaker to rule over the Majority Bloc.
Speaker Koffa took flight to the Supreme Court on grounds that his colleagues were proceeding wrongly by having sessions separately, and should come under his gavel, after failing to obtain a quorum for about a month, adding that they needed two-thirds to have him removed with forty-nine votes.
Temporarily, the Supreme Court has reserved ruling in the matter.
