By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The House Speaker Emmanuel James Nuquay has disclosed that cross section of Liberians and non-Liberians are engaging the House of Representatives to move the impeachment proceeding against three justices of the Supreme Court into a roundtable talks to find an amicable resolution.
Speaker Nuquay told reporters on the grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Tuesday afternoon, August 15, that the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations accredited to Liberia, the Traditional Council, religious groups, civil society and other key stakeholders are actively engaging the Liberian Legislature to see reason in resolve the impeachment proceeding on the three Associate Justices.
The justices who are currently in trouble with the House of Representatives are Kabineh M. Ja’neh, Phillip A.Z. Banks, III, and Jamesetta Howard – Wolokollie. Five lawmakers are pursuing impeachment against the Supreme Court justices for their decision in July on the controversial Code of Conduct, for which the lawmakers are accusing them of violating the oath of their offices.
The lawmakers who filed the petition for the impeachment of the justices are Sen. Dan Marais, Sen. Dr. Peter Coleman, Sen. James Tornola, Sen. Numene Bartekwa and Rep. George Mulbah. They are protesting the opinions of the justices
Following its ruling in March this year that the Code of Conduct was legal and binding for all its intent and purpose, the Supreme Court apparently peeled back its own ruling in July and overturned the disbarment of opposition Liberty Party’s vice presidential candidate Harrison Karnwea’s from the October elections by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Speaker Nuquay, who is himself Vice Standard-bearer of the governing Unity Party, explained that the final decision on the way forward as it relates to the impeachment proceeding will be decided by the plenary of the house. Plenary is the highest decision making body of the Liberian Legislature.
However, the Justices did not respond yesterday to the invitation by the House Judiciary Committee to answer to the petition of impeachment as authorized by a majority vote of the Plenary of the House of Representatives.
According to the recommendation from the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Atty. Worlea Dunah on August 3, the absence of the Justices could be considered as “default” and the Bill of Impeachment would be drafted and submitted to the Liberian Senate for appropriate legal action.
Meanwhile, former Standard-bearer of the Congress for Democratic Change, Cllr. Winston Tubman has termed the impeachment proceedings as ‘unconstitutional’ and it lacks constitutional provisions.
