Senate Sets Impeachment Stage

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The stage for the impeachment of Associate Justice, Kabineh Ja’neh is now set for the proceedings to go on at the level of the Liberian Senate.

This is as a result of the plenary of the Liberian Senate unanimously voting for the passage of a resolution amending 63 of the senate own standing rules that deal with impeachment processes.

The plenary which is the highest decision-making body of the Liberian Senate took the decision Tuesday, November 6, 2018 following a report submitted by its committees on Judiciary, Claims and Petition and debated by full plenary of the senate.

The committee’s report on the amendment of rule 63 of the Liberian Senate was a result of a Bill of impeachment sent to that august body by the House of Representatives calling for the impeachment of Associate Justice Ja’neh.

According to the report, the amendment of rule 63 of the Senate was intended to be in conformity with Article 43 of the 1986 constitution of the Republic of Liberia.

“The plenary of the Liberian Senate has received a proposal from the Senate leadership to amend Senate Standing rule 63 to bring some elements in conformity with the provision of the 1986 constitution of Liberia,” the resolution to amend 63 of the senate own rules stated.

There were twenty-one (21) Senators, who signed and voted in favor of the amended Senate rules while nine (9) refused to sign and vote out of which two were sick and two were distance.

Some of those who opposed the idea of the amended senate standing rule are Senators, Armah Jallah, Daniel Naatehn, Conmany Wesseh, Oscar Cooper and Nyonblee Lawrence of Gbarpolu, River Gee, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties.

Those distance and sick are Senator Milton Teahjay, Henrique Tokpa, Geraldine Doe Sheriff and Edward Dagoseh of Sinoe, Bong, Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties while the rest of the other senators are in favor of the amendment.

Following the process in plenary, Gbarpolu County Senate Daniel Naatehn expressed deep frustration in his colleagues, describing them as being sick.

Senator Naatehn has vowed to take his colleagues to court on grounds that their action was illegal and in accordance with Article 43 of the Liberian constitution which speaks of impeachment processes.

“Article 43 sets the basis for impeachment. It tells who is responsible for the Bill, who is to do the trial and it also says that the legislature shall prescribe procedures for impeachment,” Senator Naatehn.