PHOTO: Rep. Kolubah in front of the Temple of Justice
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Suspended opposition Lawmaker, Yekeh Kolubah has claimed that the leadership of the House of Representatives is trying to delay facing the Supreme Court on what he calls illegal extension of his suspension from that body.
He says his suspension is over but the leadership wants to arbitrarily extend it.
In April this year, the House of Representatives nailed one of their members with thirty (30) working days suspension without pay and benefits on Tuesday, opposition Lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah has rejected the move and threaten to file a law suit at the Supreme Court to overturn this decision..
The Montserrado County District #10 Representative has told the media in Monrovia that plenary failed to accord him the due process of law.
After the Justice in chambers, Joseph Nagbe invitation for a conference on Wednesday (July 14, 2021), which did not take place due to request for postponement by the House’s leadership, Rep. Kolubah claimed it was a deliberate move to delay his reinstatement.
The House, through its Legal Counsel, asked for an extension of time to next Wednesday, July 21, 2021, when they will be ready to fight their legal battle against the controversial Montserrado County District #10 Lawmaker.
But another information gathered by www.newspublictrust.com says that the House of Representatives is in conversation with Rep. Kolubah for them to take the matter from the Supreme Court to the Capitol Building for possible settlement.
But the Rep. Kolubah told Reporters at the court this week that he cannot negotiate with the House, except with a decision from the high court.
He further said that he cannot negotiate with his “enemies” and more besides he can never go to court and lose.
He called Representative Moses Acarious Gray who knows all the rules in the House of Representatives to appear at the Supreme Court and defend himself and his colleagues.
On Monday, July 12, 2021, Rep. Kerkulah filed a petition for a Writ of Prohibition before the Justice in Chambers, Nagbe against the House of Representatives by and thru it,s House Speaker Bhofal Chambers for extension of suspension time contrary to the time he was suspended for. And the petition was granted.
The three-count writ of petition declared that Article 20(a) says, “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law. Justice shall be done without sale, denial or delay; and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury.”
Petitioner says that the Rules and Procedures of the House of Representatives provides in Rule 2.1 that “daily sessions of the House of Representatives shall be held on Tuesday and Thursday of each week from the hours of 10:00am to 12:00pm and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at which time roll call and votes are taken, while Mondays and Wednesdays are set aside for Committees meetings and Fridays to be observed for constituency business.”
Petitioner says that he was served a communication dated May 18, 2021 by the Respondent. In the mentioned dated communication, the Petitioner was suspended by Respondent from Plenary Sessions and other legislative functions for a period of 16 meeting days. The communication further says that the suspension takes effect as of May 18, 2021. This is to say, the suspension runs from May 18, 2021 to June 8, 2021. However, since the expiration of the suspension, the Respondent has failed, refused and neglected to lift up the suspension in keeping with the letter and rules that governs the National Legislature. Petitioner further says that he made attempts to attend session since the suspension days has elapsed, but were approached by the Sergeant-at-Arm who informed Petitioner that by order of the Speaker, the Sergeant-at-arm should ensure that the Petitioner be put out of Plenary Session. Petitioner says as a law-abiding citizen, he has petitioned this forum, the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia to prohibit the action of the Respondent which is contrary to law and cause the Petitioner to attend sessions and other legislative function to perform Petitioner Constitutional and statutory functions. Petitioner also says that Petitioner salaries and other emoluments being denied Petitioner from the illegal act of the Respondent by given to Petitioner as his just and legal entitlement.
WHEREFORE AND VIEW OF THE FOREGOING facts and circumstances, Petitioner most respectfully prays Your Honor and this Honorable Court to prohibit Respondent for extending the suspension time contrary to the Rules governing the House and the letter served on the Defendant. Further, Petitioner says that Your Honor grant all that seem legal, just and equitable. Respectfully submitted.