CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – The inner dispute throughout the House of Representatives continues to escalate, with lawmakers making damning accusations in opposition to one another. The newest allegation comes from Rep. Dixon Seboe (District #16, Montserrado County), who has accused Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah of masterminding the continued management disaster within the House to exert management over its funds for private acquire.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Appearing on OK FM’s Morning Rush present, Rep. Seboe alleged that Fallah, who has been a dominant determine within the Legislature for practically twenty years, felt sidelined beneath Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s management and subsequently led efforts to unseat him.
“I think fundamentally, it is about who divides the cake. There are people in this country who feel they own the Legislature—if they are not the ones at the table, nothing should happen. And so, people like the Deputy Speaker, who thinks he must always be the giant in the room, believe that if things are not going their way, then there is a problem. He is the fundamental problem at the Capitol,” Seboe mentioned.
He added, “He thought he should have been Speaker. Now that he isn’t, it means he cannot decide who chairs which committee. And if he is not the deciding factor, then it means the things he wants to do will not be done.”
Fallah’s Role within the Leadership Crisis
Deputy Speaker Fallah has been at the middle of the management disaster throughout the House of Representatives. As the longest-serving member of the House (19 years), he wields important affect. His resolution to interrupt away from Speaker Koffa’s management reportedly strengthened the Majority Bloc, which staged what some lawmakers have described as a “legislative mutiny.”
Following his defection, Fallah presided over sittings of the Majority Bloc, the place they overturned all committee assignments made by Speaker Koffa and, with the assistant of Rep. Richard Koon, reconstituted new committees. Notably, Fallah eliminated Rep. Seboe as Chair of the “powerful” Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, changing him with Rep. P. Mike Jury (District #1, Maryland County). The Rules, Order, and Administration Committee, beforehand chaired by Rep. Marvin Cole (District #3, Bong), was additionally reassigned to Rep. James Kolleh (District #2, Bong).
During these controversial sittings, the Majority Bloc additionally elected Rep. Richard Koon as the brand new Speaker. However, the Minority Bloc, led by Koffa and his allies, challenged the legitimacy of those actions and took the matter to the Supreme Court. The court docket dominated that any actions taken exterior the constitutional framework have been extremely vires (past authorized authority).
Allegations of Budget Manipulation
Rep. Seboe additional accused Fallah of getting a historical past of monetary mismanagement and funds manipulation. He claimed that their fallout started when Fallah allegedly suggested him to withhold details about a US$900,000 particular disbursement to lawmakers for additional sittings.
“Normally, the Executive pays us extra whenever we are recalled. Fallah was prepared for us to tell our colleagues that we were not going to be paid, but he told me to tell them there was no money,” Seboe alleged. “This is the cause of the fight at the Capitol Building—people want to steal and eat people’s money.”
Past Accusations Against Fallah
This isn’t the primary time Fallah has confronted allegations of corruption. Last 12 months, Speaker Koffa accused a bunch of lawmakers of working as a “cartel” that manipulated the nationwide funds for private enrichment.
“This same cartel will carry the budget to Boulevard Palace Hotel, Room 1026, to adjust all the numbers,” Koffa alleged on the time. “The reason behind their attempts to remove me is my persistent refusal to allow lawmakers to steal from the government’s coffers.”
Similarly, in 2019, stories emerged that members of the House have been gathering signatures to take away Fallah and then-Rep. Jeremiah Koung [ow Vice President] as Chair and Co-Chair of the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee over allegations of embezzling funds meant for additional sittings. According to OK FM, lawmakers have been angered by Fallah and Koung’s alleged refusal to distribute a US$9,000 allowance per member for the additional periods.
Ongoing Power Struggle within the House
The management disaster throughout the House stays unresolved, with lawmakers divided into rival factions. Rep. Seboe famous that members have didn’t resolve their variations internally and accused the Majority Bloc of performing exterior the regulation.
“It is pathetic that for six months, we have been unable to resolve this situation on Capitol Hill. Our colleagues keep saying ‘politics is about numbers,’ and I agree 100%—but politics is also about laws and frameworks. We have consistently said that since the law was not followed in removing the Speaker, we will not recognize their leadership,” Seboe mentioned.
He added that the Rule of Law Caucus, boycotted the Majority Bloc’s latest retreat as a result of they thought of all its actions illegitimate.
“As long as the fundamental legal process has not been followed, we will not be part of them. We don’t need 25 or 30 people—we just need a few people who stand for the law.”
Fallah Yet to Respond
Deputy Speaker Fallah has but to answer these newest allegations. However, given the deepening divisions throughout the House, his response may additional gasoline the already tense standoff.
The state of affairs stays tense, with each factions digging in as the ability wrestle on the Capitol continues.