In a startling revelation, Liberia Public Radio (LPR) investigation has established that Deputy Speaker Fonati Koffa hold an American passport as he seeks to lead the West African nation’s House of Representatives as Speaker.
The investigation has raised questions about Koffa’s eligibility for the position, as the 2022 dual citizenship law forbids any person with dual nationality from holding elected offices such as member of the national legislature.
Koffa served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives during the Weah Administration this is moving to it’s end on January 22, 2024.
Koffa was re-elected to a second six-year term during the October 2023 Presidential Legislative Elections to represent Grand Kru County in Southeastern Liberia.
Liberia Public Radio has obtained an American passport No. USA 489973788 bearing the photo of Cllr. Jonathan Fornati Koffa.
The U.S. State Department issued the passport in 2012 with an expiration year of 2022.
However, our investigation revealed that Deputy Speaker Koffa has not renewed his American passport since it expiration.
LPR’s sources within the Liberia immigration Service (LIS) have also authenticated that the passport belongs to Fonati Koffa potentially putting him in violation of the law Liberia’s dual citizenship law.
Koffa was among those who reportedly supported the passage of the dual citizenship measure who some considered as discriminatory against Diaspora Liberians.
The Alien and Nationality or Dual Citizenship Act that President George Manneh Weah signed on July 2022, prohibits people with dual citizenship from holding elected position in the Legislature such as speaker and Deputy speaker and certain positions in the Executive including; the Presidency, Central Bank Governor, Finance Minister and Defense Minister, among, others.
The revelation comes at a critical juncture as Koffa, the current Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives is contesting against Unity Party Representative Richard Nagbe Koon for the Speakership of the lower house.
Our Legislative Correspondent says, the latest discovery may undoubtedly have a potential impact on Deputy Speaker Koffa’s chances in the upcoming Speaker election slated for January 15, 2024.
Difficult Past with U.S. Law
Koffa has a difficult past with the law in the United States where he reported served prison terms for various offenses to which he was convicted prior to coming to Liberia.
However, 2005 federal court records identified Mr. Koffa as an American Citizen which is in apparent violation of the Dual Citizenship Laws of Liberia. Koffa did not make any clarification regarding his U.S. immigration status at some point or if he earlier obtained U.S. citizenship and later renounced the immigration benefits follow his prison term on federal embezzlement charges.
It is not clear if Koffa denounced his citizenship between 2012-2022 or disclosed his dual citizenship to the country’s Elections Commission or to the leadership of the Congress for Democratic Change or the National Legislature.
‘Compromised and unfit’
Liberia’s speaker of the House of Representatives Bhofal Chambers, who lost his re-elections bid in the country’s October 2023 Elections, recently took aims at Deputy Speaker Jonathan Fornati Koffa describing him as “compromised and unfit” to lead the 55th Legislature.
Speaking to the Voice of Hope in Maryland County in the Southeastern region of Liberia recently, Speaker Chambers said Representative Koffa is already compromised, and electing him to the speakership post would erode the credibility of the House.
“We have somebody who has been compromised, the current deputy speaker who wants to be speaker”
Chambers said Representative Koffa is a personal lawyer for a number of public and private institutions, which the outgoing Speaker claims is a contravention of the Liberian Constitution
“It is common knowledge that Honorable Koffa is the lawyer for the Central Bank of Liberia. He cannot be a lawmaker and at the same time lawyer of the Central Bank of the CBL. You cannot be a lawmaker or deputy speaker and you are the lawyer of Liberia Telecommunication Authority and Maritime and Bea Mountains”.
Dr. Chambers also accused his deputy of undermining the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, claiming that he complained the Deputy Speaker to President Weah on the matter. Both Speaker Chambers and Koffa belong to Weah, CDC political party. Weah lost to Boakai in the November 2023 round off Presidential elections and conceded hours before the final results were announced.
When Public Radio contacted Deputy Speaker Koffa on his WhatApp and cell to Monrovia, he denied claims of U.S. Citizenship and ownership of an American Passport. Mr. Koffa stated that he only has a Liberian Passport.
Our Correspondent observed that it is not clear if the Unity Party that is also contesting for the Speakership will raise Koffa’s possibility disqualification through the country judicial system as unconfirmed report suggests that Unity Party is comteplating on running to the court.
