By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – The House of Representatives of Liberia has formally expelled Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah following the adoption of a detailed investigative report by its Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, chaired by Bong County lawmaker James M. Kolleh.
The decision, which has generated intense political debate, was anchored on findings contained in the committee’s report submitted to plenary after a series of hearings into complaints filed against Kolubah.
Presenting the report, the committee stated: “The Committee on Rules, Order and Administration respectfully presents its report on the complaints filed against Honorable Yekeh Y. Kolubah on allegations of misconduct in office, violation of his oath of office, and consistently bringing the House into public disrepute.”
The complaints were initially filed by Montserrado County District #3 Representative Sumo K. Mulbah along with concerns raised by the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Gregory O. W. Coleman, citing issues of national security and public stability.
According to the report, the matter was formally referred to the committee on April 9, 2026, with a mandate to investigate and make recommendations within ten days, setting the stage for one of the most consequential legislative disciplinary proceedings in recent history.
The committee disclosed that all parties, including Kolubah, were duly notified and invited to appear before it on April 13, 2026. “A communication was served on Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah to appear before the Committee to face his accusers,” the report noted.
During the initial hearing, Kolubah requested additional time to consult his legal counsel, a request the committee partially granted. “The Committee acknowledged the importance of due process and thus granted Hon. Kolubah two additional business days,” the report emphasized.
However, proceedings took a dramatic turn during the April 15 hearing when Kolubah appeared alongside his legal team, which requested expanded procedural concessions, including access to evidence and permission to speak on his behalf.
The committee rejected these demands, insisting that House procedures require members to speak for themselves while being guided by legal counsel. “It is the procedural of the House for members to speak for themselves to ensure their fundamental rights are protected,” the report stated.
Tensions escalated when Kolubah’s legal team insisted on their requests, prompting a temporary recess. Upon reconvening, the committee unanimously voted to proceed with the hearing without granting the additional demands.
In a decisive moment during the proceedings, Kolubah’s legal team walked out, followed shortly by the lawmaker himself, effectively abandoning the hearing process. The committee noted that this action significantly influenced its findings.
“The complainant presented his case along with pieces of evidence which were testified to, identified, marked and admitted in the records,” the report detailed, adding that the evidence supported claims of repeated violations of House rules.
In its conclusions, the committee invoked constitutional authority, stating: “The House of Representatives has the right to expel any of its members for cause; and such action is supported by law and precedence.”
Citing Article 38 of the 1986 Constitution, the report emphasized that each legislative chamber has the authority to discipline and expel members with a two-thirds majority, provided due process is observed.
The committee also referenced historical precedent, noting the 1998 expulsion of Senator Sampson Bedell Fahn by the Liberian Senate under the leadership of the late Charles W. Brumskine.
Drawing parallels, the report questioned Kolubah’s conduct, stating: “If the Senate could expel a member for refusing to attend a committee investigative hearing, what more about Hon. Yekeh Y. Kolubah who walked out of the Committee?”
The committee further argued that Kolubah’s actions “desecrate the sanctity, prestige, dignity and authority of the House of Representatives,” calling for decisive disciplinary action to deter similar behavior.
It cited specific provisions of House rules, including Rule 11 on the oath of office and Rule 42.1, which requires members to uphold the dignity of the institution and refrain from undesirable conduct.
“The actions of Hon. Kolubah violate his oath of office and constitute conduct unbecoming of a legislator,” the report declared, reinforcing the basis for its recommendation.
In its final recommendation, the committee unequivocally called for Kolubah’s expulsion. “The Committee recommends the expulsion of Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah for gross misconduct and consistent violation of the House’s Rules and Procedures.”
Additionally, the committee urged that Kolubah be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for possible prosecution in connection with his statements on the Liberia–Guinea border dispute.
The adoption of the report by plenary ultimately led to Kolubah’s removal, marking a significant moment in Liberia’s legislative history and raising broader questions about accountability, due process, and political dissent within the country’s democratic institutions.
