Monrovia — Anti-Koffa lawmakers in the House of Representatives have mandated their Secretariat to formally notify the Senate, Executive, and Judiciary branches, advising them against conducting business with Speaker Fonati Koffa and his supporters. This directive, introduced by Grand Gedeh County District #1 Representative Jeremiah Sokan, comes amid claims by the anti-Koffa bloc that government functionaries should prioritize engagement with their faction, since they comprise the majority.
During the session, anti-Koffa lawmakers called on members of the pro-Koffa faction to attend their next legislative session or face consequences under Rule 21 of the House.
Additionally, the anti-Koffa faction announced plans to summon three government officials to appear next Tuesday. Those summoned include Minister of Internal Affairs Francis Nyumalin, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation official Mo Ali, and Minister of Transport Sirleaf Tyler. Nyumalin is expected to address the status of Local Government Law implementation, while Mo Ali and Tyler will face questions regarding an ongoing Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) investigation tied to alleged bribery in the removal of the Speaker.
The faction also unveiled plans to investigate six pro-Koffa members accused of disrupting House proceedings on October 22. Representatives Frank Saah Foko, Marvin Cole, Luther Collins, Edward Flomo, Abu Kamara, and Zinnah Norman are slated to appear before a committee of the whole to explain the incident.
Meanwhile, a protest against the anti-Koffa lawmakers is underway outside the Capitol. Protesters are calling on the faction to convene sessions within the main chamber of the House for broader participation and transparency. Security forces have intervened, restricting demonstrators from entering the Capitol grounds.
The group which is yet to initiate an impeachment proceeding against the Speaker have been mounting pressure for his resignation.
The Speaker, however, maintains that resigning is not an option for him and has urged his colleagues to proceed in accordance withe Constitution. He noted that the claims brought forth by his colleagues against him were not well-researched and only intended to gain attention.
The allegations against Cllr. Koffa include accusations of conflict of interest, budget mismanagement, and illegal alterations to House structures. If substantiated, these claims would indeed call his leadership into question. He maintains his innocence and has called for a due process in accordance with Article 49 of the Constitution. This article mandates that removal proceedings must be grounded in due process, with a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority and a fair hearing. However, the anti-Koffa bloc is yet to demonstrate that they have obtained two-thirds of the members to initiate the impeachment process against the Speaker.
The group admitted before Associate Justice Yormie Gbeisay on Tuesday that they have not given the Speaker due process. They told journalist after the conference with the Supreme Court’s justice in chamber that they would begin the due process of the impeachment proceedings today. However, their today’s action runs contrary.
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