MONROVIA – The ruling Unity Party (UP) has sharply criticized Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, accusing her of undermining the country’s constitutional order and calling for her to immediately return US$60,000 in retroactive payments she authorized for herself.
In a statement posted to its official Facebook page on Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Unity Party said that during the hearings for the passage of the 2025 national budget, the Chief Justice endorsed the participation of the Judiciary’s financial team to advocate for an increased budget, all while recognizing the authority of House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, whom she and her allies later declared illegitimate.
Following the passage of the budget, the party alleges, Chief Justice Yuoh authorized an increase in her own salary to pre-harmonization levels and approved retroactive payments amounting to US$60,000 for herself and US$40,000 for each Associate Justice on the Supreme Court bench. The Judiciary has also reportedly procured a fleet of vehicles to bolster its operational capacity under the current fiscal year.
The Unity Party warned that the recent Supreme Court ruling, which invalidated actions taken by the legislative bloc led by Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, could trigger wider consequences for national governance. According to the UP, critical legislative actions now at risk of being overturned include the 2025 National Budget itself, civil servant salary increases, pay hikes for health workers, including doctors, nurses, and medical consultants, and the provision of health and life insurance for police officers. Furthermore, World Bank loan agreements and other international financial deals ratified by the Legislature could be rendered void, the party cautioned.
“Such retroactive invalidations would destabilize the state’s functioning, contrary to the Constitution’s commitment to a functional Legislature and Executive,” the statement noted.
The UP’s demands come just days after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Speaker Fonati Koffa on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, nullifying the rival Majority Bloc’s attempt to replace him with Representative Richard Nagbe Koon. The Unity Party described the Chief Justice’s actions as inconsistent and damaging to national stability, concluding its statement by urging her to immediately restitute the funds and reverse the controversial salary adjustments.
