Beware, No Date Was Set for Koffa’s Bill of Information Ruling
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Claim: “President Joseph Boakai prevailed on the Supreme Court of Liberia to delay its ruling on the controversial House leadership saga.”
Verdict: Misleading; the court has not scheduled a date for the ruling.
Full Text: Social media users, including media outlets such as FrontPage Africa Spoon Network, reported that President Joseph Boakai has asked the Supreme Court to delay the ruling on the bill of information filed by embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Screenshot of FPA story Screenshot of Spoon's post
The Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice, is the head of the Judiciary Branch in the Republic of Liberia. It comprises a 5-member bench, including a chief justice and four associate justices, with the longest-serving associate justice being the most senior. If a quorum isn't obtained, an ad hoc justice is appointed.
The Supreme Court of Liberia rendered an opinion on December 6, 2024, on the political impasse on Capitol Hill at the House of Representatives, thus rendering the decisions or actions of lawmakers as ultra vires.
Verification: In December 2024, lawyers representing embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa filed a bill of information with the Supreme Court, accusing Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, of unlawfully interpreting the court's December 6, 2024, ruling.
Koffa’s legal team, headed by Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson and Cllr. Kabineh J'aneh, asserts that the Justice Minister's December 10, 2024, public legal opinion--addressed to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs--wrongly concluded that the actions of the Majority Bloc were lawful.
We contacted Cllr. Varney Sherman, lawyer of the majority bloc, who said he is yet to receive a notice from the court about the ruling. “No, a citation for a ruling was not served on me.”
Also, Ambrose Nmah, Director of Press at the Judiciary, confirmed Sherman's comment of not receiving a notice about a ruling in the matter. "The court didn't issue a citation, and without a citation, the court can't make a decision," Nmah said.
Cllr. Arthur Johnson said at no time did he get a notice from the court.
Conclusion: Therefore, the claim that the Supreme Court rescheduled its ruling because President Boakai intervened to change the date is false. The court has not scheduled a date for the ruling.
