‘Go Back to Work’

Days after the suspended Representative of Montserrado County District #10, Yekeh Kolubah, said he will not go back to his office until court ruling in his case, Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe has asked the lawmaker to return to work.

Justice Nagbe’s decision came on Wednesday, July 21, after refusing to accept Rep. Kolubah’s request to declare his suspension by the majority members of the House of Representatives as ‘illegal’.

Nagbe, who is the current Chamber Justice of the Supreme Court, told the lawmaker to go back to work because, according to him, Rep. Kolubah’s suspension has already been lifted by his colleagues, which makes it difficult for the court to honor the lawmaker’s concern.

Justice Nagbe in his instruction to Kolubah said if Kolubah’s colleagues were to refuse to restore his rights and entitlement, the lawmaker should return to the court for an appropriate action.

The proceeding was necessitated when Rep. Kolubah, through his lawyers, filed a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court, terming the House’s decision as illegal, which led to Justice Nagbe placing a stay order on the House of Representatives pending the outcome of his decision.

In his petition, Rep. Kolubah prayed Justice Nagbe to issue the appropriate writ to stop the illegal act of the Respondent, adding, “Grant all that seem legal, just and equitable.” 

It can be recalled that Rep. Kolubah was suspended by the House for 30 days sitting (about four months) by Plenary on Thursday, March 25, 2021 without salaries, allowances and benefits for what members termed as “Rep. Kolubah’s constant habit of raining insults on President George Weah, the Speaker and some of his colleagues within the confines of the Legislature.” His alleged action, Plenary said, was in gross violation of the House’s Rules.

The decision was triggered by a communication written by Rep. Thomas Fallah (CDC, District #5, Montserrado Co.), asking plenary to take action against their colleague for his unruly behavior. Plenary then voted in favor of the 30 day-sitting suspension.

Following that, Rep. Kolubah received a Letter from the Respondent (House of Representatives) under the signature of Mildred N. Sayon, Chief Clerk, indicating that he is suspended by the Honorable House of Representatives for 30 days of meeting/session of the House beginning Tuesday, April 13, 2021 without salary, allowances and benefits.He argued on the basis of Article 20 (a) of the Constitution that, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law.”By Abednego Davis