The speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Fonati Koffa has cautioned the Executive Branch of Government from interfering into the ongoing crisis at the house of Representatives.
He told reporters Monday at the Capitol following tussles between police and some members of the minority bloc. Video footage seen Monday, saw dozens of riot police officers at the legislature preventing lawmakers and some staffers from entering.
He said the huge presence of the police at the capitol building shows that the Executive was allegedly involved into the crisis. The police takes instructions from the Ministry of Justice, which is part of the Executive.
It can be recalled that about 43 lawmakers out of 73, declared a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Speaker Koffa over a month ago.
But speaker Koffa said he can only be removed by two third majority. 'Once they reach that number, I will resign, but in the absence of that, I will not resign," he told reporters recently.
The majority lawmakers have refused and continue to meet despite their inability to reach the two third majority. Due to that, Hon. Koffa, a lawyer, filed a write of prohibition to the Supreme Court.
The court came down with its verdict last week urging the two blocs to go by articles 33 and 49. The two articles call for the rule of law and two third to remove a speaker. But the majority bloc decided to ignore the ruling of the supreme court.
On Monday, the Majority bloc invited sector ministers to go for the2025 budget hearing; a call that Speaker Koffa said was in violation of the ruling from the Supreme Court.
" We call on all sides to step back, obey the rule of law and the precepts of the supreme court ", he said.
The police fired teargas and tussled with lawmakers of the minority bloc. As a result of that, one of the lawmakers, Luther Collins of Gbarpolu sustained injuries on his head was rushed at the hospital.
"It is unfortunate and not the right thing to do for Liberia's democracy," he said.
He said if the majority bloc was not clear on the ruling of the Supreme Court, they should go back for redress.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
"If they are not clear, they need to go back to ask the Supreme Court, but what I suspect is that everyone is clear with the issue ", he said.
According to him, there is a conscious effort to ignore the Supreme Court's ruling and what is more disappointing is to see police officers allegedly taking side in the Saga by brutalizing lawmakers."
But added: "however, we are the peoples Representatives, and we will not be afraid of the people.
