–Reiterates Calls for War and Economic Crimes Court(s)

By Joseph Tumbey, josephtumbey@gmail.com

IPNEWS – Monrovia: Montserrado County District #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, is noted for not mincing words when it comes to the governance of Liberia under President George Weah-led administration.

He sees himself as an advocate, who was elected by his people in Montserrado County electoral district #10, to represent their interests at the Legislature. But his methodology in advocating for his people in his district and Liberians in general, has been described as “too harsh” or at times unruly by raining insults on the presidency as well as on the leadership of the Legislature to get his points through.

Representative Kolubah has come under public criticism for his methodology, as others say he can advocate for his people by sticking to the issues instead of being ‘rude’ to the leadership of the country.

In May this year, Representative Kolubah landed into trouble when he was suspended by the House of Representatives for his reported insults on President George Weah, as his colleagues said he as a lawmaker with the first branch of the government, has to be decent and not rain insults on the head of the Executive branch. His colleagues said he violated their laws and so he was suspended for 16-session days and withheld his salary and all other benefits during time of suspension.

The decision was based on the recommendations by the Committee on Rules, Orders and Administration, which presented its recommendation in a report submitted to plenary.

Rep. Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County) had earlier been suspended for 30-session days by the House in March without salaries, allowances and benefits for what it termed as his constant habit of raining insults at President George Weah, the Speaker and some of his colleagues within the confines of the Legislature. His alleged action, Plenary said, was in gross violation of the House’s Rules. The House’s decision was based on a complaint filed by Rep. Thomas Fallah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

But Rep. Kolubah, through his lawyers filed a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court, terming the House’s decision as illegal. At a conference hearing on April 22, 2021, Justice-in-Chambers Joseph Nagbe said the House did not accord Rep. Kolubah due process as outlined in Rule 48.4 of the House of Representatives.

The rule states that before a disciplinary action can be taken against any member, the Speaker shall refer the matter to the Committee on Rules and Orders, and the House, after examining the report and recommendations submitted by that committee, shall render its decision, and the decision shall be final.

The House was then compelled by Justice Joseph Nagbe to lift the suspension it hastily placed on Representative Kolubah, and mandated its Committee on Rules, Orders and Administration, led by Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo (District #9, Nimba County), to accord him due diligence by probing into the complaints filed against him.

In its report read openly in Plenary by the Deputy Chief Clerk Sayfa Geeplay, the Committee stated that Rep. Kolubah refused to attend its invitation on countless occasions and termed his action as a deliberate attempt to stall the hearing so as to nullify the complaints raised against him.

Excerpt of the Committee’s report: “… Members of the Committee, in view of the investigations are pleased to make the following recommendations. That Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah be suspended from all legislative functions for a period of 30 meeting days; that benefits for Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah including salaries, gasoline etc. be withheld and not paid for the period of his suspension.”

Following a sustained debate on the floor, the Plenary, through a motion proffered by Rep. Samuel Kogar (District #5, Nimba County) voted to reduce the suspension to 16 session days, with his salary and allowances withheld.

So, after several days away from Liberia while suspended, Representative Kolubah told journalists at a press conference held over the weekend at his District #10 office on the Old Road in Sinkor, that he will be over radical as he has returned to continue his advocacy for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) for Liberia to stop impunity in the country.

Representative Kolubah noted that the prolonged delay of the Weah administration to request international partners to help establish the WECC is tantamount to undermining Liberia’s foreign relations. He said some countries play the ‘wait-and-see-game’ with the Weah’s administration to see if he will comply to call for the WECC establishment in order to prosecute those who allegedly committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. “I am afraid if President Weah fails to call for WECC establishment, his administration will be strangulated internationally in relation to getting serious funding,” the lawmaker stressed.

Yekeh also pointed out that the international community no more has confidence in the 54^th Legislative Deputy Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa to consult him on legal matters on the establishment of the WECC for Liberia due to his close relationship with the President of Liberia.

In his efforts to ensure that justice is served, Representative Kolubah named House Speaker Bhofal Chambers as one of the first public officials that will be investigated for alleged economic crimes when the Economic Crimes Court for Liberia is set-up under the WECC arrangement. He did not give any specific alleged corrupt act the Speaker has committed when quizzed.

He also assured to lead the campaign to prosecute those leaders who have robbed the country’s resources for their personal benefits. Rep. Kolubah maintained that the President and his allies are not afraid of the War Crime Court but rather the establishment of Economic Crimes Court as the President and his strong supporters including House Speaker Chambers and several others are listed for prosecution at the appropriate time. Yekeh also did not name who listed President Weah, Speaker Chambers and others on the list of economic crimes violation in Liberia.

The Montserrado County lawmaker also said those Liberians with the highest human rights violation records as are contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, and whose actions have left massive trauma among families who lost their loved ones during the nation’s brutal civil war, will also face the WECC when established.

“It is time for everyone to conduct himself orderly because I am powerfully set to disrespect anyone who intends to undermine the establishment of Economic and War Court for Liberia,” Rep. Kolubah stressed.