MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Full Bench of the Supreme of Liberia is scheduled to hear arguments today, October 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM in an appeal filed by the Executive Branch of the Liberian government against the Writ of Prohibition granted Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), who was unlawful removed from his tenure-position by Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in October 2025.
Dr. Nyan, a globally recognized doctor, scientist, and public health expert, filed a petition at the Supreme Court of Liberia on October 23, 2025, challenging 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, no due process of law, and no cause.
Dr. Nyan was appointed by the President on August 1, 2024 after a thorough vetting process, 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 further stated.
On January 15, 2026, the Supreme Justice-in-Chambers, James Howard-Wolokolie held hearing after a November 13, 2025 conference failed to resolve the matter between lawyers of both sides. On February 16, 2026, Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie, sitting in Chambers, ruled in Dr. Nyan’s favour.
According to the Chambers Justice’s Ruling, the Court concluded that the Executive had not provided any evidence, did not conduct any investigation, failed to establish cause, and did not follow due-process requirements established under the NPHIL Act and the Liberian Constitution for the removal of a tenure official, referencing multiple precedent cases including Wolo v Wolo 5LLR 423 (1937) and Article 20(a) of the 1986 Constitution on the right to he heard; Yealue et al v Executive Branch of Government (2024), and Article 25 of the 1986 Constitution on breach of contract in tenure position, among others.
The court, thus ordered that Dr. Nyan be reinstated or compensated for the remainder of his statutory tenure and other remedies.
The government did not comply with the ruling for several months, but subsequently filed an appeal to the Chambers decision to the Full Bench of the Supreme Court. But, questions remain as to what exactly is the Executive appealing and what is the legal basis for such appeal?
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 laboratory capacity, diseases diagnostics, One-Health Programme 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.” From the evaluation presidential Performance Contracts and Index, Dr. Nyan’s tenure at NPHIL was awarded “2025 Performance Excellence” by President Boakai who has earlier terminated him for “gross inefficiency.”
The contradictions become very glaring in these instances where 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 by the Africa CDC in 2024, while in the following year, he received the 2025 African Genius Award (AGA) for his impactful scientific work and inventions that promote science and technology in Africa.
Legal analysts and citizens have long spotted President Boakai’s missteps in this controversial dismissal of Dr. Nyan, a high performing official of government and internationally acclaimed scientist. For this, the government’s violation of the right to due process has since come under national criticism and international pressure to conform to the rule of law, good governance, and accountability.
The case has drawn international interest with judicial authorities closely following the case now before the full bench of the Supreme Court. Legal experts have opined that 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, science innovation and public health, has expressed his confidence in the full bench proceedings and for 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 Senior Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe of Gongloe & Associates and Senior Cllr. Kabineh M. Ja’neh, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
