IPNEWS: With less than 24rs following the issuant of a ‘stay-order’ on all proceedings of the ‘rebel Lawmakers’, a staunch member of the group has vowed that they will go ahead with plans to hold their session come Tuesday, October 29, 2023 at 10:00A.M.
“We will have formal session on Tuesday. We are going ahead with our work, the official business of the Liberian people. We will read the directive of the Justice in Chambers. We will meet in plenary. We will discuss it. We do not run a bloc.”
“We will go to plenary for official session on Tuesday because we are more than 37 as required by law. The Justice in Chamber is not acting in keeping with the law. We are going to session. The Legislature functions on majority precedent. The Presiding Officer is the Hon. Clarence Garh and not Hon. Kogar.” Rep. Foday Fahnbulleh told the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper.
On Friday, October 25, Justice-in-chambers, Yamie Quigui Gbeisay, ordered all proceedings of ‘rebel’ Lawmakers, seeking to removal House Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa .
The Supreme Court of Liberia mandate came in the wake of petition filed by the Leadership of the House of Representative.
The ‘Rebel’ Lawmakers, calling themselves “Majority Bloc” within the House of Representatives are scheduled for a conference on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:00 AM.
Speaker of the House, Honorable J. Fonati Koffa, is seeking a writ of prohibition against Representatives Samuel G. Kogar of Nimby County District #5, Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11, and other members of the Majority Bloc. The petition asserts that these representatives have acted outside the authority granted to them under the House’s Standing Rules.
Associate Justice Yamie Quigui Gbeisay, presiding over the case, has called for the conference to address the legal implications of the Majority Bloc’s actions and to determine the appropriate course of action moving forward. In his ruling, Justice Gbeisay emphasized the importance of maintaining order and adherence to legislative procedures during this contentious period.
The decision by the Justice-in-chambers, followed long hours of mediation between rival parties by the Senate’s mediation committee headed by Grand Bassa County Senator Gbarzohngay M. Findley.
Sources closed to the committee tells IPNEWS that initial demands by the ‘Rebel’ Lawmakers is the unconditional resignation of Speaker Koffa to return to the House’s Chambers.
Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, has ruled out any call for his resignation and warn of a long haul to ensuring that the House of Representative is audited bringing an end to repeated budget alterations
Meanwhile, the Youth League of the Opposition Collation for Democratic Change (CDC) has condemned a coup attempt aims to depose Speaker J. Fonati Koffa .
Addressing a press conference Friday evening the Acting Chairman of the CDC Youth League Eddie Tarawali called for the immediate expulsion of party Lawmakers who are defying the party by ganging up to remove a Speaker from the opposition. Eddie said the Executive Committee of the CDC must ensure CDC Lawmakers against the Speaker are expelled for being Party indiscipline.
In a direct appeal to the CDC’s executive committee, the Youth League urged them to consider expelling any lawmakers who support the coup against Speaker Koffa. “We must protect our party’s integrity and the democratic processes of our nation,” Tarawali stated.
Report says at least seven CDC Lawmakers are among a group of Representatives sorting to remove Speaker Koffa.
The Youth League also raised concerns about escalating police presence around the Capitol, which they claim is being used to intimidate citizens and lawmakers alike. They called on the international community and civil society to intervene in what they termed a “glaring act of bribery” orchestrated by the Executive.
The Youth League accused VP Jeremiah Kpan Koung, of masterminding the removal of Speaker Koffa, a move they describe as a “desperate political subterfuge.” Tarawali highlighted that the actions, including the alleged misappropriation of over $1.5 million from state funds, threaten Liberia’s democracy and governance integrity.
“The attempt to create an imperial presidency must be resisted,” Tarawali urged, emphasizing the need for party unity. As the political crisis unfolds, the Youth League announced plans for a retreat from November 14-17, 2024, to mobilize CDC youth in support of their leadership and resist what they see as corrupt practices.
“This is a critical moment for our party and our country,” Tarawali concluded, urging all partisans to stand united against what he termed the “evil plan” of Boakai and his supporters.
