By: Samuel B. Johnson
In a sharp rebuke of the nation’s highest court, Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon rejected the April 23, 2025 ruling of the Supreme Court that reinstated J. Fonati Koffa as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Koon described the ruling as a blatant violation of the doctrine of separation of powers and vowed not to honor the Court’s decision.
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Speaker Koon referenced Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution and House Rule 9(a) as the legal basis for Koffa’s removal. According to Koon, the House acted within its rights when it voted overwhelmingly, 50 out of 73 members for Koffa’s ousting on allegations of corruption, conflict of interest, and mismanagement. He emphasized that due process was observed throughout the removal process.
“The resolution to remove Hon. Koffa followed legislative procedures and was executed in line with our rules and constitutional authority,” Koon asserted. “No member filed for reconsideration, and the action remains binding and final within the chambers of the House.”
Describing the Court’s judgment as “atrocious and audacious,” Koon warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent for judicial interference in legislative matters. He maintained that the House would not reverse its decision and would continue to operate independently of the Supreme Court’s interpretation.
Koon further stated that the House remains focused on pressing national duties, including the passage and enforcement of the 2025 National Budget. He said the legislative arm will proceed with all necessary functions and responsibilities, dismissing any notion of halting business in light of the Court’s decision.
The standoff signals growing tensions between the Judiciary and the Legislature and raises concerns over a looming constitutional crisis. Koon concluded with a stern caution that the Supreme Court had veered from its historic stance of non-intervention in legislative affairs, thereby endangering the balance of power enshrined in Liberia’s democratic framework.
