MONROVIA – The Justice-in-Chambers of the Supreme Court of Liberia has issued a Writ of Prohibition against the Executive Branch of the Liberian Government in the wrongful dismissal case of Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan (PETITIONER) v. Executive Branch of Government and cites the Executive Branch (RESPONDENT) to appear (through filing its returns) before or on Thursday, December 18, 2025 to “show cause why the PETITIONER’S PETITION as prayed for should not be granted.”
Dr. Nyan, a globally recognized doctor, scientist, and public health expert, filed a petition at the Supreme Court of Liberia on October 23, 2025, declaring as illegal and unconstitutional his dismissal on October 15, 2025 as Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) by Liberian President Joseph Boakai who acted on an NPHIL Board resolution that provided “no evidence” of wrong-doing.
From the Supreme Court of Liberia, the Clerk has instructed the Marshal, Brig./General Amos B. K. Dickson, Sr. to issue the Writ of Prohibition, stating that:
“YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to notify The Executive Branch of the Liberian Government, represented by the Minister of Justice & Attorney General, The Solicitor General, and all person operating under the authority of the Minister, Republic of Liberia, RESPONDENT, in the above entitled cause of action, to appear (by filing its returns) before Her Honor Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, Associate Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, presiding in Chambers, at the Supreme Court Room, Temple of Justice, on/or before the 18h day of December, A. D. 2025, at the hour of 9:00 a.m., to show cause why the PETITIONER’S PETITION as prayed for should not be granted.”
The Supreme Court further commanded the Marshal:
“To read to them the original, and leave a copy of the Writ of PROHIBITION with the RESPONDENT [the Executive Branch].”
The Writ follows a conference held on November 13, 2025 with Justice-in-Chambers Jamesetta Howard-Wolokolie who reserved judgement couple of weeks ago to allow discussion between lawyers of the petitioner, Dr. Nyan and the respondent, the Executive Branch, for reinstatement of Dr. Nyan or his compensation for breach of tenure contract and other remedies according to law.
Dr. Nyan’s Petition for Prohibition, filed on September 23, 2025, argues that the president’s action was based on an unconstitutional resolution from the NPHIL Board of Directors headed by Stephen B. Kennedy, violated the NPHIL Act of 2016, and ignored the statutory requirements for removing a tenured official. Court documents revealed that the Board’s resolution provided “no evidence,” and Dr. Nyan was neither accused nor investigated for any wrongdoing.
His petition further states that the president’s acts constitute a flagrant violation of the law and procedure and constitute reasons for prohibition as recognized by the Supreme Court in past tenure cases such as Yealue et al. v. Executive Branch of Government, Martin Sallie Kollie v. Executive Branch of Government, and Reginald K. Nagbe v. Executive Branch of Government, a judicial precedent which reinforces the protection of tenure positions in autonomous agencies.
Dr. Nyan was appointed by the President on August 1, 2024, to a five-year tenure as Director General of NPHIL in keeping with Section 4.4 of the NPHIL Act, hence cannot be removed “at will” or without cause and due process, the petition stated.
Since taking office, Dr. Nyan has been credited with strengthening NPHIL’s administrative and technical capacities, leading successful responses to Mpox, Lassa fever, and measles outbreaks, strengthened diseases diagnostics and surveillance, and constructed a modern Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) at the NPHIL. NPHIL also gained international recognition under his leadership, earning designation from the Africa CDC as an “Africa Regional Center of Excellence for National Public Health Institute Development.”
Dr. Nyan, also a medical doctor and an inventor, has been named as “Africa CDC Champion of Biomedical Science and Research” for West African Region. This year, he received the 2025 African Genius Award (AGA) for his impactful scientific work and inventions that promotes science and technology in Africa.
President Boakai’s missteps in this controversial dismissal of Dr. Nyan, a high performing official of government and internationally acclaimed scientist, has since come under national criticism and international pressure to conform to the rule of law, good governance, and accountability in public service.
The outcome of the judicial intervention in Dr. Nyan’s case could set a landmark precedent for the protection of tenure positions in government institutions, thereby reinforcing the rule of law and the separation of powers.
Dr. Nyan, an internationally recognized biomedical scientist known for his contributions to infectious disease diagnostics research and public health, has expressed his confidence in the judiciary to uphold constitutional order and fairness so that due process is respected in public service. He is represented by a legal team led by Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe of Gongloe & Associates and Cllr. Kabineh M. Ja’neh, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
