Public Alarms Seethe Over Supreme Court Delay -Outcries Mount for House Case Ruling Amid Boakai’s ‘Interferences’

MONROVIA – Despite the announcement that ruling is pending for this Wednesday into the bill of information filed by embattled House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa to the Supreme Court regarding widespread misunderstanding of an earlier Supreme Court edict in the lingering House of Representatives brouhaha, there are citizens who are nevertheless expressing their disenchantment over what they see as protracted delays by the Court, coupled with subtle interferences by President Joseph Boakai in the matter. As The Analyst reports, citizens spoken to over the weekend said while they were hopeful that the matter would finally be given a closure, they also wanted to see a verdict that would not postponed again or studded in controversial phrases and conclusions.

All eyes and ears are open towards the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill where it is reported the High Court’s full bench would deliver a ruling that many expect to bring to a final end months of standoff at the 55^th National Legislature, specifically the House of Representatives, embroiled in intractable leadership feud.

Two factions in the House power debacle have been at each other’s throat – the so-called majority and minority blocs — both claiming leadership but without the required numbers, quorum, to conduct legislative business. This has since rendered the third branch of government impotent if not paralyzed to conduct their constitutional business for well over nine months now.  

An earlier ruling by the Supreme Court in the same matter failed to prove the Liberian High Court as the final arbiter since it was marred by controversy – both parties in the case celebrating victory – making the derived edict un-implementable.

The duly elected House Speaker, who months later after his election was ousted from his post by his colleagues in circumstances and procedures deemed illegal, ran to the High Court for the second time to seek information or clarifications on the first ruling which could not be implemented by both parties.

This Wednesday, the ruling may be handed down but there is much misgivings amongst citizens who are worried if the scheduled date would hold this time around and that, if handed down, would be free from repeated legal glitches and polemics.

Towards the announced D-Day, citizens are expressing their apprehensions and hopes, as if to pressurize the ‘last arbiter of justice’ as the High Court is fondly called by coming out with the ruling as scheduled and free from controversy and external influences.

There are those who are concerned about reports that President Joseph Boakai continues to call for a hold on the final judgement and his engagement with the parties for settlement outside the court. The contend that the High Court should disentangle itself from the presidency.

It is reported by various media outlets that President Boakai had repeatedly stopped the Court from releasing its verdict to afford him time to negotiate with the parties and find an out-of-court settlement, and each time he tried, the parties, mainly the Koffa faction which tags itself “Rule of Law Caucus”, would refuse to cooperate with the president.

It is not known exactly why the President hopes to achieve or what he fears in allowing the Court delivers the verdict, though some pundits interpret the move to be that the “Majority Bloc” which he tacitly lavishly supports has lost the case and it is the president’s strategy for the court to give the majority bloc soft landing.

“I think the Supreme Court should proceed with the ruling this Wednesday if it is true that is the date for it,” said law student James C.L. Kerkulah. “While I am not against the justices giving the president courtesy, I want them realize that it is their legacy, and images, that are on the line for the generations now and after to judge. Will they let their legacies ruined for Boakai’s transient political interests? The law is the law. It is only honorable that the Court let the chips fall where they should—and now. Let the Supreme Court muster the courage and deliver the verdict this time around on time—and without delay.”

There are those who think the High Court has been acting in ways that commensurate with the criticality of the case.

Another interviewee, who simply identified himself as Pa Moses, said: “My problem with the justices of the Supreme Court is that they don’t seem to be giving the case the attention and urgency it deserves. I had thought that a case of such national magnitude—where the entire legislative regime of the country is paralyzed and ineffective, rendering major governmental stewardships unconstitutional and illegal—the Court’s rulings in every application would be very quick and very clear. Their dillydallying with this very important case sends a very wrong signal for citizens and international partners that are watching – that our justice system is unreliable and insensitive. I pray they buckle up to save themselves and the nation.”

Arthur Jarwleh said: “This case must come to an end. The nation is suffering. People are divided. The supreme court, whatever it has got as its verdict, must bring it out, and now. This is not about the feelings of Fonati or Koon or Boakia or CDC or UP. Justice is justice. Period. Let our ears hear another thing.”