Against “Majority Bloc” Trying To Remove Him From Office, But He Has Vowed To Fight On
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia– The Supreme Court Chamber Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay today, Wednesday, November 6,2024, rejected to issue the Alternative Writ prayed by Speaker Fonati Kofa legal team, a ruling the “majority bloc” trying to oust him have greeted with enthusiasm.
Article 49
The House of Representative shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be the 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.
The Chamber Justice ruling reads, that by directive of his Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby informed that the Justice has declined to issue the writ prayed for.
Meanwhile, stay order of October 24,2024, is hereby lifted.
For weeks now, a large group of members of the House of Representatives have forged a bloc, issuing a statement demanding that Speaker Koffa quits his post outlining a number of claims of abuse of office and corruption. The embattled Speaker had himself hit back accusing some of his colleagues trying to oust him of themselves being involved in corrupt practices and demanding kickback for performing their legislative responsibilities.
On Monday November 4,2024, Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay heard arguments between the minority and majority blocs of embattled Speaker Fonati Kofa in order to make an informed decision. Will Leadership Struggle At The House Of Rep. End With Court Action Or…? – News Public Trust
During the arguments, Justice Gbeisay questioned Cllr. Varney Sherman who was representing the majority bloc of Speaker Kofa why not his clients return to the main chambers of the House of Representatives and deliver their complaints and the person they having issue step aside and his deputy presided rather than staying away?
He clarified that his stay order issued didn’t prevent lawmakers from assembling from performing their functions but rather its their illegal actions toward the removal process.
Arguing for the majority bloc against Speaker Kofa, Cllr. H. Varney Sherman denied that nothing has been done to remove the speaker because he’s still enjoying his speakership under the law of the Republic of Liberia.
Cllr. Sherman said, the petition filed by speaker Kofa was pre-matured and as far as he’s concerned, nothing is happening at the House of Representatives.
While Cllr. Syrenius Cephas former Associate Justice Kabineh J’aneh said, the lawmakers should give their client due process. Since Article 49 gives them the right to elect n remove speaker.
Article 49
The House of Representative shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be the 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.
Speaker with Judicial reporters, some lawmakers from the majority bloc agreed to have session in the main chambers of the House of Representatives this Tuesday November 5,2024 to initiate the due process highlighted by Cllr. Kofa lawyers.
It can be recalled on October 25,2024, the Chambers Justice issued a stay order on every proceedings of the anti Kofa bloc pending the outcome of today’s conference.
Meanwhile, local media reports quote the embattled Speaking as saying, he will continue to fight on and will not give in to his colleagues who are holding “illegal session”.