Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Members of the House of Representatives have finally punished Rep. Yekeh Y. Kolubah of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) for allegedly raining insults on President George Weah.
The House on Tuesday voted to suspend Rep. Kolubah for 16-session days (two months) and to withhold his salary and all other benefits during the time of suspension.
The decision was based on the recommendations by the Committee on Rules, Order and Administration which was contained in a report submitted to plenary.
Rep. Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County) had earlier been suspended for 30 session days by the House in March without salaries, allowances and benefits for what it termed as his constant habit of raining insults at President George Weah, the Speaker and some of his colleagues within the confines of the Legislature. His alleged action, Plenary said, was in gross violation of the House’s Rules. The House’s decision was based on a complaint filed by Rep. Thomas Fallah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
But Rep. Kolubah, through his lawyers filed a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court, terming the House’s decision as illegal.
At a conference hearing on April 22, 2021, Justice-in-Chambers Joseph Nagbe said the House did not accord Rep. Kolubah due process as outlined in Rule 48.4 of the House of Representatives.
The rule states that before a disciplinary action can be taken against any member, the speaker shall refer the matter to the Committee on Rules and Order, and the House, after examining the report and recommendations submitted by that committee, shall render its decision, and the decision shall be final.
The House was then compelled by Justice Joseph Nagbe to lift the suspension it hastily placed on Representatives Kolubah, and mandated its Committee on Rules, Order and Administration led by Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo (District #9, Nimba County) to accord him due diligence by probing into the complaints filed against him.
The Committee Report
In its report read openly in Plenary by the Deputy Chief Clerk Sayfa Geeplay, the Committee stated that Rep. Kolubah refused to attend its invitation on countless occasions, and termed his action as a deliberate attempt to stall the hearing so as to nullify the complaints raised against him.
Excerpt of the Committee’s report: “… Members of the Committee, in view of the investigations are pleased to make the following recommendations. That Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah be suspended from all legislative functions for a period of 30 meeting days; that benefits for Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah including salaries, gasoline etc. be withheld and not paid for the period of his suspension.”
Following a sustained debate on the floor, the Plenary, through a motion proffered by Rep. Samuel Kogar (District #5, NImba County) voted to reduce the suspension to 16 session days, with his salary and allowances withheld.
Prior to the vote, it appeared that Rep. Kolubah was on his way to be exonerated, judging from the trend of the discussion. And based on some of his colleagues’ advice, Rep. Kolubah openly apologized for his actions by saying, “Whatsoever I have said, weather it is insult or not, I take it back. And I want to say I am sorry.”
However, in a dramatic twist, Rep. Kogar filed a motion, saying by apologizing, Rep. Kolubah has admitted that he is guilty and the punishment should be upheld but reduced, and it was approved with 18 voting in favor and four against.
‘Illegal and A Witch Hunt’
Meanwhile, prior to the decision, Representatives Clarence Massaquoi (CPP, District #4, Lofa County) and Larry Younquoi (CPP, District #8, Nimba County) called the proceedings against Rep. Kolubah as illegal and an attempt to silence him.
According to the lawmakers, the complaint filed against Rep. Kolubah, as written by the complainant, centered on action that transpired outside of the House, and as such, it should not be entertained by the House of Representatives.
But Rep. Acarous M. Gray vehemently disagreed and said their colleague was in breach of Rule 42 of the House.
Rule 42 which talks about the ‘Prestige and Dignity of the House, states that:
“42.1 Every member shall, at any place, keep the prestige and dignity of the House and refrain from undesirable acts.
42.2 No Member shall insult, abuse or harass other persons within the confines of the House, or cause disturbance to the activities of the House.”