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By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Paynesville, Liberia, May 1, 2026 – Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has weighed in on the expulsion of Yekeh Kolubah, questioning the House of Representatives’ decision and stressing that no individual should be removed from office for exercising their right to freedom of speech.
“I don’t think this is the way to go. I don’t think someone should be expelled because of freedom of speech. I upheld the independence of freedom of speech. I don’t think anyone should be overly disturbed when people express their views,” Madam Sirleaf said.
Appearing on Thursday, April 29, 2026, on Truth FM’s flagship program, Truth Breakfast Show, she noted that such actions should not warrant severe penalties, stressing that there are more appropriate ways to address such matters.
“Freedom of speech is something that we must respect. That’s what makes good governance,” the former President emphasized.
The House expelled controversial Montserrado County District #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, after members voted overwhelmingly, a move that some believe was taken in direct defiance of an active stay order issued by the Supreme Court just a day earlier.
The House removed Kolubah from office, with the resolution carrying 49 signatures, precisely meeting the two-thirds majority required under Article 38 of the 1986 Constitution to expel a sitting lawmaker.
The vote came just one day after Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba issued a formal citation ordering “an immediate stay on all further proceedings or actions related to the matter” pending a conference scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
A stay order, by definition, requires all actions to stop. The House, however, proceeded with the expulsion despite the Court’s directive. The order followed a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition filed by Kolubah, seeking to halt the legislative process on grounds of alleged due process violations.
The citation, signed by Supreme Court Clerk Sam Mamulu, named Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, the Chief Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, and bore the official seal of the Republic.
No subsequent ruling lifted the stay, and no authorization was granted for the House to proceed, raising serious constitutional concerns about the legality of the action. Legal observers warn that the decision could trigger a significant institutional clash between the Judiciary and the Legislature.
Prominent Liberian lawyer Tiawan Saye Gongloe said the Supreme Court now faces critical choices, including voiding the expulsion as illegal, holding House leadership in contempt, or ordering Kolubah’s reinstatement pending a proper hearing that satisfies due process.
The House was cited to appear before Justice Kaba on Monday, setting the stage for a potentially defining legal confrontation.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, April 29, at the Temple of Justice following the House leadership’s appearance for a Bill of Information hearing, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, Bong County Representative James M. Kolleh, maintained that the House was never served with a writ of prohibition, an assertion he believes validates the decision to expel Rep. Kolubah.
The expulsion followed an investigation by the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, which acted on complaints filed by Montserrado County District #3 Representative Sumo K. Mulbah and Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman.
The allegations included gross misconduct, violation of oath of office, breaches of House rules, and conduct deemed to have brought the Legislature into public disrepute, along with concerns related to national security and stability.
Kolubah was formally notified on April 9, 2026, to appear before the Committee on April 13. He acknowledged receipt but requested five days to consult with his legal counsel. The Committee granted him two additional business days, citing the importance of balancing fairness with procedural efficiency.
Tensions escalated during the April 15 hearing when Kolubah appeared with his legal team, which requested additional time and access to key materials, including statements attributed to their client and the House’s governing rules.
The Committee rejected the request, maintaining that members must speak for themselves while being guided by counsel, and that the quasi-judicial nature of the hearing did not require strict adherence to formal evidentiary standards.
Following a heated exchange and a brief recess, the Committee voted to proceed with the hearing. In protest, Kolubah’s legal team walked out, and he followed shortly thereafter.
The Committee continued in their absence, hearing testimony, admitting evidence, and concluding that Kolubah had violated multiple provisions of the House’s rules and procedures.
In its report, the Committee argued that the Constitution empowers the Legislature to discipline its members, including expulsion for cause with a two-thirds majority. It cited Rule 42.1, which requires lawmakers to uphold the dignity and prestige of the House, and concluded that Kolubah’s conduct had consistently undermined the institution.
