MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has summoned the Executive through the Ministry of Justice to a conference today, Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., in connection with a petition filed by Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, the recently dismissed Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
Dr. Nyan is challenging his removal by the Executive Branch, terming it “illegal, unconstitutional, and in violation of due process.” He is seeking a writ of prohibition to halt the enforcement of his dismissal, immediate reinstatement, and a return to the status quo ante (the previous state of affairs) pending a final determination.
The Petitioner’s Argument: Lack of Due Process
Dr. Nyan, represented by Cllrs. Tiawan Saye Gongloe and Kabineh M. Ja’neh, argues that his September 17, 2025, termination by President Joseph Boakai violates both the NPHIL Act of 2016 and Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution, which guarantees due process.
Section 4.4 of the NPHIL Act grants the Director General a fixed five-year tenure and states that removal can only be for cause – such as corruption, incapacity, or conduct inimical to the public interest, and only after due process.
Dr. Nyan contends that he was neither accused, charged, nor investigated for any wrongdoing, making his termination based on the NPHIL Board’s recommendation unlawful.
The petition cites previous Supreme Court rulings, including the Martin S. Kollie (2019) and Yealue et al. (2024) cases, which reaffirmed that tenured officials of autonomous agencies cannot be dismissed without due process.
The Executive’s Basis for Dismissal
President Boakai’s decision to dismiss Dr. Nyan followed a formal recommendation from the NPHIL Board of Directors, which cited “gross inefficiency, undesirable actions against the public interest, and violations of the NPHIL Act of 2016.”
The Board claimed the dismissal was necessary to restore efficiency and accountability, accusing Dr. Nyan of a “litany of administrative and managerial failures,” including bypassing Statutory Oversight, persistently failing to involve the Board in critical decision-making processes and lack of coordination and coordination and collaboration between NPHIL and the Ministry of Health. He was also accused of operating without transparency and making unilateral decisions.
It is noted that before his removal, Dr. Nyan submitted a detailed written response to the Board’s allegations, which he claims refuted all charges.
Scrutiny and Context
The President’s decision has drawn national and international scrutiny. Concerns are being raised regarding potential conflict of interest and nepotism, as Dr. Nyan’s replacement is the former Co-Chair of the Board that recommended his removal and is also reportedly a close relative (“Niece”) of the President.
Dr. Nyan, appointed on August 1, 2024, is a renowned biomedical scientist and public health expert. During his short tenure, the institute demonstrated progress in controlling several outbreaks that include Monkeypox and Lassa fever; NPHIL has also achieved national and international recognition, designated as an “Africa Regional Center of Excellence” by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Staff at NPHIL also credit him with vigorously tackling corruption and instilling professionalism at the institute.
Legal analysts say this case, formally titled Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan vs. The Executive Branch of Government, is expected to be a critical test of the boundaries of presidential power over tenured officials in autonomous public institutions.
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