Monrovia – Representative Yekeh Kolubah has accused Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Koon of ordering police officers to forcibly break into his vehicle at the Capitol, allegedly resulting in the disappearance of US$25,000, L$2 million, and valuable electronics. Kolubah, a fierce critic of Koon, says the break-in—allegedly caught on video—was politically motivated and executed under the guise of clearing a disputed parking space.
The controversy started on the premises of the Capitol Building, where Representative Kolubah had parked his vehicle in a space traditionally reserved for the Speaker of the House. With the embattled Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, still recognized as the legitimate leader by a bloc of lawmakers, the parking area has become contentious in the ongoing battle for control within the Legislature. Representative Kolubah, a fierce critic of Koon and an outspoken ally of Koffa, on Tuesday parked in the Speaker’s parking space.
The majority bloc Speaker Koon allegedly instructed security personnel and other individuals to force open Kolubah’s locked vehicle using a hand drilling machine. Koluba alleges that after the forced entry, the vehicle was never moved, but that cash totaling US$25,000 and L$2 million, along with an essential Dell laptop and iPhone, had been stolen.
The Liberia National Police confirmed that two senior officers from its Police Support Unit (PSU)—Sergeant Sam C. F. Karbor and Chief Inspector of Police Frank P. Banda—have been recalled for questioning by the Professional Standards Division. Additionally, an LNP forensic team was dispatched to the scene to assess the vehicle for any potential leads on the missing items.
‘Speaker’ Koon was spotted at LNP headquarters on Tuesday, where sources indicate he had gone to provide his version of events. Koon has yet to issue a formal statement, but his supporters argue that Koluba’s defiant actions—namely his refusal to recognize Koon’s authority and his deliberate occupation of the Speaker’s designated parking spot—were unnecessarily provocative. They contend that the Majority Bloc Speaker merely sought to clear an obstruction, not to instigate a politically charged confrontation.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers affiliated with the Rule of Law Caucus have strongly condemned what they view as the weaponization of security forces to settle political scores. They described the Koon’s action as an egregious abuse of power, warning that such actions set a dangerous precedent for governance in Liberia.
On January 28, Rep. Kolubah was expelled from a regular sitting of the House after he openly challenged the legitimacy of Koon as Speaker.
Koluba asserted during that sitting, “Richard Koon is not the Speaker. I only recognize Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah.”
Supporters of Koon, including River Gee District #3 Representative Johnson S.N. Williams and Montserrado District #8 Representative Prince Toles, called for immediate action against Koluba, accusing him of disrupting the sitting and showing blatant disrespect to the Majority Bloc’s leadership.
In response, Speaker Koon instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Koluba from the chamber. The situation escalated as Koluba resisted but was eventually escorted out, all while reiterating his rejection of Koon’s leadership.
Speaking to reporters outside the chamber, Koluba remained defiant. “Koon is desperate. He is not the Speaker, and I will never recognize him as such. As far as I’m concerned, Fonati Koffa is the only legitimate Speaker of the House,” he stated.
Koluba also accused the Boakai administration of orchestrating what he described as “an illegal leadership structure” within the House of Representatives. He argued that Koon’s election undermines democratic principles and reflects the government’s desperation to consolidate power.
Last week, Associate Justice Yormie Quiqui Gbeisay broke 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 since last October. 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.
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.
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