The suspension of Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah has sparked outrage, with the Rule of Law Caucus of the House of Representatives calling the decision illegal and unconstitutional.
Musa Hassan Bility, chairman of the caucus, minced no words in condemning the suspension, labeling it a reckless move that completely disregards the ruling of the Supreme Court and the established rules of the House.
According to Bility, the so-called majority in the House imposed a punishment that has no legal backing, using a vague term, “session day,” that does not exist in the official House rules. Beyond the procedural errors, he pointed out that the decision itself was flawed because the lawmakers pushing for Kolubah’s suspension did not have the numbers required to legally carry it out.
No Quorum, No Legal Suspension
For such a major action to stand, the House Rules state that at least 49 lawmakers must be present and 49 must vote in favor. However, only 32 lawmakers were in the room when the decision was made, far below the required threshold. This means, by law, Kolubah’s suspension is null and void.
Bility and the Rule of Law Caucus are now urging the Government of Liberia to intervene before the situation escalates further. He warned that continued violations of the law, especially when ignored by the government, could shake public confidence in Liberia’s democracy.
A Warning to the Finance Minister
Bility also had a strong message for the Minister of Finance, warning that any attempt to withhold Yekeh Kolubah’s salary or benefits based on this unlawful suspension would be a direct violation of the law.
“The current sitting body lacks legitimacy,” he emphasized, adding that using this decision to block Kolubah’s pay would be nothing short of political impunity.
A Call to Defend the Rule of Law
While the Rule of Law Caucus remains committed to resolving the crisis peacefully, Bility believes their efforts are being undermined by a reckless few in the legislature.
He is calling on civil society organizations, democratic institutions, and ordinary Liberians to stand against what he describes as an attack on democracy.
“The time to restore order is now,” he declared. “The rule of law must prevail.”
