MONROVIA – The Ministry of Justice has issued a formal clarification regarding the ongoing legal dispute involving Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, following public debate over a ruling connected to his removal as Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
In a press statement released on Friday, March 6, 2026, and signed by Jutonu Y. Kollie, Director of Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, the government responded to growing public commentary surrounding the case. The clarification followed arguments heard on January 15, 2026 before Chambers Justice Jamesetta Howard-Wolokolie, and a ruling delivered on February 16, 2026.
The statement, titled “Clarification on Supreme Court Proceedings in the Matter of Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan,” addressed concerns raised by the renowned biomedical scientist regarding the government’s response to the court’s decision in his wrongful termination case against the Executive Branch of the Government of Liberia.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the government remains firmly committed to respecting the authority of the judiciary. “The Ministry categorically affirms that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, remains fully committed to the rule of law and to the constitutional authority of the Judiciary,” the statement said.
The Ministry emphasized that it would never undermine or disregard the authority of the court. “At no time will the Ministry undermine, disregard, or refuse to enforce a lawful decision of the Supreme Court of Liberia,” the release stated, adding that respect for judicial decisions and adherence to legal processes remain fundamental obligations of the Executive Branch.
The case gained heightened attention after the Supreme Court of Liberia ordered that Dr. Nyan be immediately reinstated to his position or compensated for the remainder of his tenure. However, the Ministry explained that the ruling referenced publicly was issued by a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting in Chambers, a procedural step that remains subject to further review.
Under Liberian law and Supreme Court practice, decisions made by a Justice in Chambers can be appealed before the Full Bench of the court. The Ministry stated that when such an appeal is filed, the enforcement of the Chambers ruling is automatically stayed until the Full Bench reaches a final determination.
“In keeping with established legal procedure, the Executive Branch, through its legal representatives, exercised its constitutional right to appeal the Chambers ruling to the Full Bench of the Supreme Court,” the Ministry noted. It stressed that the action should not be interpreted as defiance of the court.
Rather, officials said the appeal represents a lawful constitutional remedy designed to ensure that significant legal matters receive full judicial consideration. “This step is neither an act of defiance nor a refusal to comply with the Court,” the Ministry emphasized in its statement.
The Justice Ministry also cautioned that claims suggesting the government is refusing to enforce the law are misleading. “Any suggestion that the Ministry of Justice or the Executive Branch is refusing to enforce the law is misleading and does not reflect the legal reality,” the statement explained.
Dr. Nyan, a globally acclaimed biomedical scientist, filed a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition on October 23, 2025, challenging his dismissal from the leadership of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia on October 15, 2025. His removal followed a resolution by the institute’s board alleging “gross inefficiency,” though critics argue that the accusation was not supported by evidence.
Represented by prominent Liberian lawyers Tiawan Saye Gongloe and Kabineh Ja’neh of Gongloe & Associates Law Firm, Dr. Nyan maintains that his dismissal was arbitrary, politically motivated, and in violation of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia Act of 2016. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice concluded its statement by assuring the public that the government will continue to act strictly within the law, stressing that the integrity of Liberia’s constitutional democracy depends on full respect for judicial procedures.
