Former Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’nah has vowed to challenge the legality of Liberia’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget if President Joseph Boakai signs it into law. The $880 million budget, passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives’ “majority bloc,” has sparked controversy amid accusations of procedural violations.
Speaking on a public platform, Justice Ja’nah announced plans to sue the government, starting with lower courts and escalating to the Supreme Court, to seek a legal declaration on whether the budget’s passage adhered to constitutional requirements. Ja’nah emphasized that the aim is to clarify the procedural legality of the budget, not to challenge the Supreme Court itself.
The Senate approved the budget on December 20, 2024, with 19 out of 30 senators voting in favor following a motion by Grand Kru County Senator Numene Bartekwa. This approval followed an emergency session held by the majority bloc at Monrovia City Hall.
Embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has labeled the majority bloc’s passage of the budget as “ultra vires,” indicating actions taken beyond their legal authority. Koffa and other critics, including Ja’nah, argue that the process violated established legislative protocols.
As the controversy unfolds, analysts are closely watching President Boakai, who has expressed support for the budget. Ja’nah and his team of lawyers are prepared to escalate the matter to Liberia’s highest court, seeking to ensure transparency and adherence to the rule of law in the budgetary process.