MONROVIA – The Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia has commanded the Executive Branch of the Government of Liberia to appear before it and justify the dismissal of Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan as
Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, presiding in Chambers, issued a Writ of Prohibition on December 9, 2025, in response to a petition filed by Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan. The writ directs the Executive Branch—represented by the Minister of Justice, the Solicitor General, and all persons operating under their authority—to “show cause” why Dr. Nyan’s petition should not be granted.
The court order, served by Supreme Court Marshal Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., compels the government to file its official returns (legal response) by or before 9:00 a.m. on December 18, 2025. The Marshal’s return, filed on December 10, confirms that the writ was successfully served on the Executive Branch through Ophelia S. George, a filing clerk in the office of the Solicitor General at the Ministry of Justice.
The Supreme Court’s order indicates that Dr. Nyan has presented a prima facie case serious enough to warrant an immediate judicial review of the executive’s conduct. Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, an infectious disease expert, led Liberia’s foremost public health agency, NPHIL, which is critical for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and health security.
The Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Justice, is now legally obligated to comply with the Supreme Court’s command.
