Liberia-After a failed attempt to remove Cllr. J. Fornati Koffa as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature, 41 of the 47 lawmakers who previously signed the resolution have wrapped up a strategic meeting at the Barnesville Town Hall where they elected a leadership to accelerate the removal of the Speaker.
This action comes in response to allegations of significant corruption, conflict of interest, and misuse of power by the Speaker something that is yet to be verified. However, the rebel lawmakers have been accused of receiving bribe to remove Speaker Koffa. According to report and confirmed by one of the lawmakers, each of the lawmakers who signed the resolution against Speaker Koffa received US$15,000 in bribe.
The newly elected leadership tasked with pursuing Koffa’s removal includes, Samuel Kogar, Nimba County District #5 Representative Chairman, Sekou Kanneh, Montserrado County District #2 Representative, Co-Chairman, and Marcus Thomas, Montserrado County District #4 Representative as Secretary.
Koffa faces serious accusations involving over US$7 million in unaccounted funds from his tenure as Deputy Speaker of the 54th Legislature. He is also alleged to have engaged in conflicts of interest by leveraging his power to influence various functions and decisions within the government and the private sector according a resolution signed by 47 members of that august body.
The majority bloc of lawmakers seeking Koffa’s removal claimed that he received US$9.7 million over two budgetary years-2022 and 2023-while serving as Deputy Speaker. This amount is far beyond what was allocated for his office, raising significant concerns among his colleagues.
“In 2022, the Legislature approved a budget of US$1.5 million for Koffa as Deputy Speaker. However, reports indicate that he collected approximately US$5.6 million by the end of that fiscal year. A similar situation occurred in 2023, when the Legislature allocated US$1.1 million, but Koffa allegedly appropriated US$4.1 million for himself,” the resolution to remove him added.
The rebel lawmakers considering themselves as majority bloc also accused Speaker Koffa of continuing to serve as a lead consultant and lawyer for various government agencies, concessions, and private companies. These include entities such as the Liberia Petroleum and Refining Corporation, the Liberia Maritime Authority, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority-all of which fall under the oversight of the House.
The allegations have prompted a wave of discontent among lawmakers, who argue that Koffa’s actions undermine the integrity of the legislative body.
The remaining 41 lawmakers who are determined to oust Cllr. Koffa as Speaker of the 55th Legislature have regrouped after an apparent failed coup attempt last Thursday. The group convened at the Barnesville Townhall on Friday evening, resolving to form a new bloc under the leadership of Nimba County’s Samuel Korgar as chairman. This development follows the initial gathering of 47 Representatives who signed a resolution to remove House Speaker Fonati Koffa and subsequently voted to establish leadership for the block.
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