Monrovia, Liberia – In response to reports that President Joseph Boakai asked for a postponement of the Supreme Court’s decision on a Bill of Information submitted by Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Senator Augustine Chea, the Head of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims, and Petition, has condemned what he calls judicial interference and obstruction of justice.
Senator Chea, who serves as the 55th National Legislature’s representative for Sinoe County, voiced worry that President Boakai’s alleged proposal would compromise the 1986 Liberian Constitution’s division of powers.
The embattled Speaker Koffa filed a Bill of Information asking the Supreme Court to clarify whether the House of Representatives’ majority bloc’s efforts to remove him were lawful.
According to reports, President Boakai has reportedly asked the Supreme Court to postpone rendering a decision on the case, which was scheduled to take place on April 9, 2025. However on the anticipated day, no ruling was announced, which fueled more rumors about the President’s power over the courts. Negotiations between the House of Representatives’ majority and minority groups are underway at the time of this intervention.
Senator Chea voiced worry in a statement in Monrovia, calling the President’s alleged acts a constitutional infringement. He emphasized that such interference is not part of the Constitution’s mandate for the coordination of Liberia’s three organs of government. He stated that while consulting is a common practice, it should never be used to influence the independence of the judiciary.
The senator further stressed that the President’s purported request for a two-week postponement, which was meant to settle the House leadership dispute, is an infringement on the Court’s jurisdiction.
He was adamantly against any such move, stating that it would undermine the judiciary’s independence. Senator Chea underscored how crucial it is that the Supreme Court uphold its independence and resist political pressure.
According to him, Liberia cannot afford such repercussions, and if the Supreme Court permits this to occur, it would be the beginning of the end for the judiciary’s independence. Citing the ongoing conflict within the House of Representatives, Senator Chea further refuted claims that the matter was only a political one. He reiterated that while the selection of a Speaker is a political choice, the process itself is governed by statutory frameworks.
Echoing the Chief Justice, Senator Chea continued, “How they elect and remove that person is a legal matter because that is within the scope of the Constitution.”
The senator illustrated to the populace that the Constitution clearly outlines the procedures for selecting and dismissing a Speaker and that Liberia is a country of laws, not men.
Senator Chea referenced the Constitution’s Articles 65 and 66, which guarantee the Supreme Court’s rulings are final and enforceable and position it as the ultimate authority on constitutional matters. He warned against any acts that may jeopardize Liberia’s judicial system and demanded a forceful reaffirmation of the judiciary’s independence.
