Monrovia – Amid the ongoing dispute over the rightful Speaker of the House of Representatives, Associate Justice Yormie Quiqui Gbeisay has broken his silence, reaffirming that all legislative proceedings currently underway at the House are illegal.
Justice Gbeisay made these remarks in Nimba County during the recent opening of the term of Court. According to him, neither the majority bloc nor the minority bloc has met the legal requirements to conduct official legislative business. As a result, the entire Bench of the Supreme Court refused to attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while Representative Richard Nagbe Koon presided over the House.
“We did not get involved with the President’s address because we wanted to avoid the conflict. Now that you, the quote-unquote majority bloc claim to have a quorum, we still don’t see a Speaker there. So whatever you do is ultra vires. All in all is illegal,” Justice Gbeisay declared, addressing an audience that included newly admitted members of the National Bar Association (LNBA).
Ultra vires is a Latin phrase meaning “beyond the power.” It is used in law to describe actions that exceed the legal authority of the person or entity performing them.
The House of Representatives has been embroiled in internal conflict over its leadership for months. Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Fonati J. Koffa was elected Speaker but later faced opposition from his colleagues, including those from his own political alignment. This dispute has created a legislative paralysis, with neither side willing to compromise.
The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter of justice, was expected to settle the matter decisively. However, its ruling failed to explicitly name a legitimate leader, instead declaring that the ongoing legislative activities were ultra vires. This ambiguity allowed multiple interpretations, further deepening the crisis.
Justice Gbeisay provided further clarity on why he and his colleagues, including Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, did not honor the invitation to the State of the Nation Address delivered by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“When they appeared before us, we made a decision, and based on that decision, the law requires that the House must have a quorum, presided over by a legitimate Speaker. We turned to the minority bloc and said, ‘The law states that until you can have a quorum, you must continue to adjourn from day to day and compel the majority to join you.’ But there is no statute detailing how you can compel the people,” Gbeisay explained.
According to him, no legal provision exists outlining how the minority can force the majority to attend a session presided over by a Speaker who lacks the required quorum.
“You don’t have a rule telling us how you will compel the people. So you too, you remain there until you get the majority. Whatever you do is ultra vires. Both sides, it is a clear saying: ‘Go and solve your problem,’” he added.
Justice Gbeisay further emphasized that the House of Representatives and, by extension, the Legislature, is a political body, and as Justices of the Supreme Court, they do not wish to be entangled in political conflicts.
“We are not in control of politics. For any reason, the Senate recognized the majority bloc, the President recognized the majority bloc, and government functions are ongoing,” he stated. “But while that is happening, the judiciary remains neutral.”
Forcible Eviction of Koffa from the Speaker’s Office
Meanwhile, House of Representatives, under the leadership of Majority Bloc Speaker Koon, who is also a member of the ruling party, forcibly removed the belongings of embattled Speaker Koffa from his office. Th office door was burst open with a hammer and a chisel.
While Koon’s ascendency remains controversial and legally challenged, the government has officially recognized him as Speaker.
The move, orchestrated by the House’s Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration, was overseen by the Sergeant-at-Arms and witnessed by members of the press. Representative James Kolleh, Chairperson of the committee, led the eviction process, citing a mandate from plenary to ensure a smooth transition of power.
Koffa, who was controversially removed from the Speakership, had resisted vacating the office, dismissing previous directives ordering him to relinquish control. In a letter to Chief Clerk Mildred Sayon, Koffa challenged the Majority Bloc to seize the office “in the same manner they obtained the Speakership—illegally and with the force of the Executive.”
His refusal to vacate the office reportedly led to multiple failed mediation attempts, prompting plenary to authorize the physical removal of his possessions. The committee reportedly confirmed that numerous notices had been issued, including a five-day ultimatum recommended by Justice Minister Oswald Tweh. However, Koffa reportedly departed for the United States without formally complying with the directive.
His belongings were removed on February 11—Armed Forces Day, a national holiday—when few expected any action to be taken at the Capitol.
Upon his return to Liberia over the weekend via Roberts International Airport, Koffa reaffirmed his stance, declaring that he would never recognize Koon’s leadership.
“For me to sit under the leadership of Speaker Koon is to legitimize his speakership, and that is something I cannot do at this moment,” Koffa stated emphatically. He reiterated his rejection of Koon’s authority and announced his intention to seek further legal clarity on the matter, citing a bill of information he previously filed before the Supreme Court.
During a tense legislative session last week, Representative Austine Taylor introduced a motion compelling the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration, along with the Sergeant-at-Arms, to seize control of the Speaker’s office and officially hand it over to Koon. Taylor insisted that the transition be conducted transparently, with media presence to ensure public accountability.
With the Supreme Court’s decision still clouded in ambiguity, the Speakership crisis remains a contentious issue, deepening political divisions within the Legislature and raising questions about the rule of law in Liberia.
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