–Several Lawmakers Withdraw From Resolution
The conspiracy hatched to remove the Speaker of the 55th National Legislature, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, has been engulfed with several uncertainties, with political, human rights and civil society activists, as well as members of the Liberian Senate calling on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to intervene and investigate the bribery allegation surrounding the matter, describing it as a crime against the state.
On Thursday, a video clip of Gbarpolu County’s district #2, Representative, Luther Collins, holding a huge sum of United States dollars that he claimed was a bribe to remove Speaker Kofa, widely circulated on social media, raising concerns regarding the process.
Since then, there have been claims and counterclaims amongst members of the House of Representatives, with some claiming that no money is involved in the process, while others are saying that even if money is involved there is no problem with it, as Speaker Koffa, too, used financial inducement to get elected to the post.
Several of the rebelling representatives are still pursuing Koffa’s removal, justifying all the counts mentioned in their resolution, including significant conflict of interest, arbitrary decision-making, corruption (when he served as Deputy Speaker), altering the 2024 National Budget and conviction in the United States.
Thirty-eight (38) of them held a meeting on Sunday, October 20, 2024 to re-calibrate after the first but failed attempt on Thursday and re-strategize for the next session, Tuesday, October 22, 2024. According to them, additional four lawmakers sent in their excuse for their absence, amounting to 42.
They warned that if Speaker Koffa returns and refuses to place the impeachment on the agenda, they will walk out of session, which could possibly create a stall in the House’s function, as the remaining lawmakers may not reach a quorum to carry out business.
However, their effort is being regarded as self-encouragement and a disregard for the feedback they are receiving from their constituencies, several of whom see the process, especially with the level of bribery, as uncalled for and an affront to the masses of the poor citizenry.
Unfortunately, about 15% of those who signed the resolution to remove the Speaker have rescinded their decision, describing the removal process as dishonorable.
Those who have withdrawn themselves from the removal process include Representatives Rugie Yartu Barry, Priscilla Cooper, Thomas Goshua, Luther Collins and Matthew Joe. This has significantly dropped the strength of the rebelling team, making it impossible for a two-thirds majority to have the speaker removed.
But several prominent citizens have described the lawmakers’ action as an affront to the struggling citizenry. They say civil servants cannot be earning US$150 a month while those they elected to represent them are distributing US$15,000 among themselves just to sign one sheet of paper.
In addition, senators Abraham Darius Dillon and Nathaniel F. McGill are calling on the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch an investigation into the allegation of bribery at the House and prosecute all those involved.
Senator Dillon said, “Members of the House of Representatives have the rights and legal powers to remove a Speaker… but for ‘cause’, after ‘due process of law’. But when said removal process is marred by alleged bribery, and said ‘bribery’ is exposed as seen in this video, then it calls for criminal investigation by the Justice Ministry and or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to authentic the veracity of the ‘bribery’ claim”.
According to Senator Dillon, bribery is a felony for which a lawmaker or any group of lawmakers can be arrested and prosecuted, even during session of the Legislature, and that in any bribery claim there must be a “giver” and a “recipient”.
“I am therefore impressing upon the Ministry of Justice, as well as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, to immediately institute criminal investigations into this matter to ensure justice and fairplay. This investigation must begin with the arrest and subsequent questioning of the lawmaker seen in this video to tell from where he received the alleged bribe,” Senator Dillon pointed out.
Also, Senator McGill observed that Liberia’s democracy is in danger. “The use of bribery to remove an elected official from office represents the most blatant and dangerous form of corruption. It undermines the very foundation of our democratic principles, where elected leaders should serve based on the will of the people, not on backroom deals or financial coercion,” he stated.
Senator McGill, too, called on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to immediately launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the grave allegation—lawmakers suspected of receiving bribes to remove the Speaker—and the lawmakers responsible held accountable to ensure the protection and future of the democracy. “This is not just a political issue, but a test of our commitment to uphold the rule of law, accountability, and the principles that should guide our nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nimba County’s district #7 Representative, Musa Hassan Bility, has intoned that the “reckless attempt to disrupt the balance of power in the Legislature will not succeed. The opposition will cast aside all minor differences and unite to protect our democracy. Led by the CDC Majority in the House of Representatives, we will firmly stand together to thwart the Unity Party’s efforts to undermine the people’s will expressed in the 2023 polls. We will not allow the Unity Party to take control of the House of Representatives. As a united opposition, we will prioritize our democracy and safeguard it against any threat.”
Speaker Fonati Koffa, who was out of country when his removal proceeding started, has returned.