-Cllr. Gongloe Warns Against Yekeh’s Imminent Expulsion
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – Prominent legal scholar and human rights lawyer, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, is warning that efforts to impeach or expel Montserrado County District 10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah, would represent a serious constitutional violation. The House of Representatives is currently investigating the lawmaker over alleged treasonable statements concerning Liberia’s territorial dispute with Guinea.
Cllr. Gongloe, Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Liberia, former Solicitor General, and lecturer in Law and Politics at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, has issued a sharp legal rebuke to what he describes as a fundamental confusion between political authority and judicial power.
“Liberia is once again confronted with a moment that tests our understanding of law and governance. The communication from the Inspector General of Police calling on the House of Representatives to take action against Hon. Kolubah for treason is not only misplaced—it is legally unsound and constitutionally dangerous,” Gongloe noted in a statement via his official Facebook page on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
At the center of the controversy is a communication from Inspector General Gregory Coleman of the Liberia National Police, who has called on the House of Representatives to take action against Kolubah for alleged treason. Gongloe argues that this approach is legally unsound and constitutionally dangerous.
“If the Inspector General believes that Hon. Kolubah has committed treason, the law provides a straightforward course—arrest, charge, and prosecution before a court of competent jurisdiction,” Gongloe said.
He emphasized that treason is a criminal offense, not a political accusation to be resolved through impeachment or expulsion. “Treason is a criminal offense, not a political accusation to be resolved through impeachment or expulsion. The Legislature is not a criminal court and cannot determine guilt or innocence for such an offense. The attempt to impeach or expel Hon. Kolubah based on an alleged criminal offense such as treason is a serious legal misstep. Impeachment or expulsion cannot be used as substitutes for criminal prosecution. Where a crime is alleged, the proper course under the law is arrest, charge, and trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The attempt to impeach or expel Kolubah on the basis of an alleged criminal offense, Gongloe warned, blurs the lines between political authority and judicial power, thereby undermining the doctrine of separation of powers and setting a dangerous precedent for the misuse of legislative authority. Drawing from his own experience in government, Gongloe recalled that during his tenure as Solicitor General, he led the indictment of two sitting Senators.
“No one is above the law. When I served as Solicitor General of Liberia, I led the indictment of two sitting Senators. They were taken through the courts—not removed through political processes. That is how accountability works in a constitutional democracy.
As one who teaches Law and Politics at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, I must emphasize a fundamental principle: politics without the control of the law is chaos. No government should place politics above the law. When law is subordinated to political convenience, institutions weaken and democracy itself is endangered.” he said.
The lawmaker is currently under investigation by the House’s Committee on Rules, Orders, and Administration following a communication filed by Montserrado County District 3 Representative Sumo Mulbah, who invoked the House’s authority under Article 62 of the Liberian Constitution to act as a grand inquest.
The complaint alleges that Kolubah publicly asserted that disputed territory along the Liberia-Guinea border belongs to Guinea, doing so without reliance on any established legal instruments, treaties, or adjudicated boundary determinations, and without deference to the official position of the Liberian government.
Gongloe also raised concerns about the protection of free speech, noting that controversial statements by lawmakers do not automatically amount to treason. He cited the example of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who publicly criticized American military actions against Iran as a violation of international law.
His words: “He was not accused of treason; he exercised his constitutional right to speak and to question government policy. The allegation concerning the Makona River—reportedly raised by Hon. Kolubah—may be serious, but it requires investigation, not political reaction. I have therefore called on Joseph Boakai to establish a commission of inquiry, following the example of William R. Tolbert after the April 14, 1979 rice protest. The statement made by Hon. Kolubah may properly serve as a basis for inviting him to appear before such a commission to provide evidence in support of his claims. Other Liberians with relevant or contrary information may also be invited to testify.”
He has called on President Joseph Boakai to establish a commission of inquiry, following the example of former President William R. Tolbert after the April 14, 1979 rice protest. Such a commission, Gongloe proposed, would invite Kolubah to provide evidence supporting his claims, along with other Liberians possessing relevant information. The commission would then submit a report to the President clarifying the facts and making recommendations.
The investigation has already seen procedural developments. Early this week, Kolubah formally requested additional time from the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration to secure legal representation. Citing the recent Fast and Prayer holiday and closure of law offices between April 10–12, he appealed for five working days to retain counsel, noting that the matter raises significant constitutional issues including questions regarding the Committee’s jurisdiction.
During its hearing on Monday, the Committee granted the request in part, with Committee Chair Hon. James Kolleh indicating that five days would be excessive given the limited timeframe of the ongoing Special Session. Following a motion, the Committee allowed a two-day extension, setting Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM as the new date for the hearing.
Kolleh assured that the proceedings would be conducted in line with the House’s rules and procedures, guaranteeing due process.
The House has prayed that Kolubah be expelled for gross breach of duty, misconduct in office, and violation of oath, and that the matter be transmitted to the Liberian Senate for trial in accordance with the Constitution.
Upon conviction, the complaint requests that Kolubah be removed from office and disqualified from holding any public office as provided by law.
But Gongloe offered a final warning: “Liberia must resist the temptation to substitute law with power. If the House proceeds to impeach or expel Hon. Kolubah on this basis, it would be a serious legal misstep that undermines constitutional order.”
He added, quoting a principle he teaches at the Grimes School of Law: “Politics without the control of the law is chaos. No government should place politics above the law. When law is subordinated to political convenience, institutions weaken and democracy itself is endangered.” However, Montserrado County District 3, Representative Sumo Mulbah who proffered one of the communications that led to the ongoing ingestion, disagrees with Cllr. Gongloe’s assertions regarding the matter.
