The Supreme Court as the highest court in Liberia is being challenged by Liberians who appear to support the ongoing power struggle at the House of Representatives in favor of the Majority Bloc.
Following the court’s April 23, 2025 ruling in embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s Bill of Information against his forceful removal which has engulfed the House of Representatives since 2024, it (highest court) has been criticized for illegalizing the actions of the Majority Bloc.
Critics of the court have argued that while it has nullified all actions of the Richard Koon’s speakership, the Judiciary is using its allotment of the national budget passed under the very ‘illegal’ speakership; adding, “Why the Supreme Court did not reject its allotment of the national budget?” The legal argument against the Supreme Court is also being supported by some legal minds, claiming ambiguity in the court’s interpretation of ‘ultra vires’- the law that makes the actions of the Majority Bloc illegal.
Ironically, the Majority Bloc that earlier rejected the court’s opinion has later somersaulted, thus acknowledging the court ruling and at the same time anticipating a re-argument, clarity, correctness and adherence to constitutional dictates and procedural questions currently before the nation.
According to some lawyers, the Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction over the internal matters of the Legislative Branch, judging by the doctrine of separation of power amongst the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of government.
The National Bar Association of Liberia though acknowledged the recent opinion of the Supreme Court on what it called the Amended BOI filed by embattled Speaker Koffa, the LNBA disagreed with the April 23, 2025 Court’s opinion as a testament to its role in interpreting constitutional matters. However, Liberians who are in defense of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of embattled Speaker Koffa have continued to counter- argue their opponents that the court was not in error for its expressed opinion in the case.
According to them, the court acted on legal request to intervene for redress amongst elected public servants who vowed to uphold, respect and protect the rule of law which the constitution provides for the maintenance of peace and stability in Liberia.
They recalled that when the shamble for power emerged at the House of Representatives beyond the middle of 2024, embattled Speaker Koffa initially filed a petition for injunction against the Majority Bloc to disengage the leadership tussle, but the court at the time nullified the injunction request on grounds that nothing had happened during that time to warrant injunction .
Notwithstanding, it is also recalled that bent on seeking legal redress in the speakership saga, Koffa filed a Bill of Information to the Supreme Court after the Majority Bloc elected Koon on a ‘white ballot’ as speaker of the 55th House of Representatives. “ It is no secret that the court invited both parties to a conference and mandated that they return to status quo and do the right thing, but the Majority Bloc refused and insisted not to sit under the gavel of Koffa as speaker of the House,” one of those backing the court’s ruling has indicated.
Therefore, the court’s mandate at the time was reportedly meant to reserve final ruling should both parties remain at variance in reaching a peaceful settlement of their leadership debacle.