By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Lawyers representing the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, asked the Supreme Court of Liberia, through Justice in Chambers Yusuf D. Kaba, to dismiss a Bill of Information filed by former Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah, insisting that his expulsion from the Legislature was constitutional, lawful, and carried out after due process.
During proceedings before the Justice in Chambers, the House’s legal team argued that Kolubah was given a fair opportunity to defend himself but chose to walk away from the disciplinary hearing convened to hear allegations against him.
“The respondent was afforded due process but elected to walk away from the very hearing convened to hear him,” the House lawyers stated in their filing.
The House further maintained that it could not be held in contempt of court because no writ of prohibition or stay order was ever served on the Legislature before it proceeded with disciplinary action.
“The House cannot be held in contempt for an order it never received,” the filing added.
Kolubah had petitioned the Court through a Bill of Information, claiming that his removal violated previous directives of the Supreme Court and denied him constitutional due process protections.
The legal battle stems from the House’s decision on April 17, 2026, to expel Kolubah after lawmakers secured the 49 signatures required under the Constitution to remove a sitting member of the Legislature. The action followed the adoption of a report from the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, which recommended his removal.
Plenary subsequently acted on the recommendation, reaching the constitutional threshold needed to enforce the expulsion. The process gained added significance when Representative Jacob C. Debee, Chairman of the Rule of Law Caucus, signed onto the resolution, strengthening the final tally that led to Kolubah’s removal.
However, the expulsion process also exposed clear divisions within the House, as several prominent lawmakers reportedly declined to append their signatures. Those who withheld support included Representatives Frank Saah Foko, Dixon Seboe, Eugene Kollie, Musa Hassan Bility, Muka Kamara, Edward P. Flomo, and Marvin Cole.
Attorneys for the House challenged the validity of Kolubah’s filing, arguing that court documents were improperly served and therefore legally defective. They also contended that the former lawmaker failed to exhaust internal legislative remedies before seeking judicial intervention.
Based on those arguments, the respondents urged the Justice in Chambers to dismiss the case and uphold the House’s decision to expel Kolubah.
Following oral arguments, no immediate ruling was delivered. Instead, the presiding Justice reserved decision, meaning the Court will announce its ruling at a later date.
Speaking to reporters outside the Temple of Justice after the hearing, Bong County Representative James Kolleh, who chairs the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, said the matter remains pending.
“There is no ruling yet,” Kolleh told journalists. “The arguments were presented and the Justice reserved ruling. We are now awaiting summons for the decision.”
Kolleh also defended the House’s appearance before the Court, stating that lawmakers attended under what he described as a special appearance, despite their claim that they were not properly served.
He argued that the House came to demonstrate respect for the judicial process and to hear the complaints raised against it.
The pending ruling is expected to determine whether the Supreme Court will entertain Kolubah’s challenge or allow the House’s disciplinary decision to stand.
