Fallah and Koung Accused of Plotting Speaker Koffa’s Ouster, 47 Lawmakers Sign Removal Resolution

A political storm has erupted in Liberia’s House of Representatives as 47 out of 73 lawmakers signed a resolution on Thursday seeking the removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa. 

The move has ignited accusations of bribery and conspiracy, with some members pointing fingers at Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, alleging that they are behind the campaign to unseat the Speaker.

Montserrado County District #13 Representative Edward Flomo and other lawmakers have openly accused Deputy Speaker Fallah and VP Koung of offering bribes to their colleagues to support Koffa’s ouster. 

Flomo claimed that each lawmaker who signs the resolution is being offered a sum of US$25,000.

“These are serious accusations, and we must not allow our legislative process to be manipulated by money and backdoor deals,” Representative Flomo declared. 

He called for a thorough investigation into the matter, demanding transparency from those allegedly involved in the plot to remove the Speaker.

In response to the allegations, Deputy Speaker Fallah vehemently denied any involvement in a scheme to remove Speaker Koffa, dismissing the claims as "false and misleading." 

Fallah, who represents Lofa County District #1, asserted that his hands are clean, stating that the accusations against him were politically motivated.

"I have no involvement in any plot to remove Speaker Koffa. These accusations are baseless and are only intended to create division within our party," Fallah stated. 

He went on to criticize his fellow Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) members for what he called a misguided attempt to target him.

The calls for Speaker Koffa’s removal come at a critical time in his leadership, just months after he took office. 

Since his election, Koffa has been outspoken about his intention to reform the lower house, particularly by calling for the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct an audit of the legislative body, the first such audit in over 30 years.

“We promised to run a more transparent and accountable House, and that is what we are doing,” Speaker Koffa stated in a recent interview. “It is sad that the House has not been audited for three decades. We are resolved to no longer do business as usual.”

Koffa’s call for an audit has ruffled feathers among some of his colleagues, leading to speculation that this move may have fueled the effort to remove him from office. 

Some lawmakers reportedly see the audit as a threat to their interests, especially given the sensitive financial disclosures that could arise from such a process.

The Auditor General, P. Garswa Jackson, Sr., has supported Koffa’s push for accountability, proposing a System Review Audit of the Legislature. 

The audit is intended to span two years and pave the way for a comprehensive evaluation of the financial and operational practices within the House of Representatives.

This is not the first time that the lower house has experienced such a power struggle. In January 2007, Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe was removed from his position following bribery allegations. 

Although the Supreme Court later reinstated him, Snowe’s case highlighted the volatile nature of leadership in Liberia’s House of Representatives.

Similarly, in September 2016, Representative Alex J. Tyler was forced to step down as Speaker after 49 lawmakers signed a resolution for his removal. 

Tyler’s ouster followed pressure from within the House amid growing discontent over his leadership.

The current move against Speaker Koffa is reminiscent of those past episodes, as it once again invokes Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution, which outlines the process for the election and removal of the Speaker. 

According to Article 49, the House of Representatives shall elect a Speaker every six years, and the body reserves the right to remove the Speaker through a resolution signed by a majority of its members.

As the tension within the House of Representatives continues to build, many are questioning whether this latest attempt to unseat a sitting Speaker will follow the same path as previous efforts or if Koffa’s push for transparency and accountability will ultimately prevail.

In the coming days, all eyes will be on the lawmakers who signed the resolution as well as those who have accused their colleagues of bribery. 

With the fate of Speaker Koffa hanging in the balance, the House faces a potential showdown that could further fracture an already divided legislative body.

If the accusations of bribery are proven true, the credibility of the House of Representatives may be significantly undermined, sparking public outrage and potentially triggering investigations by independent bodies. 

For now, Speaker Koffa remains firm in his position, insisting that his commitment to transparency will not waver in the face of adversity.