Speaker Koon Accuses Senator Nimely of Troubling Former Sen. Johnson's Death

Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Koon has sparked controversy by blaming Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely for the death of the late Nimba County Senator Prince Yormie Johnson. The accusation, made during Senator Johnson’s funeral in Nimba County, has ignited backlash on social media.

                                  By: Odarty Blackie

Speaker Koon's remarks were rooted in what he described as the perceived hypocrisy of Grand Gedeh County’s Senator Nimely.

Despite Senator Nimely's laudatory remarks about Senator Johnson during the funeral, Koon pointed to previous actions Nimely had taken against him.

Specifically, Koon mentioned that Nimely had signed a resolution connected to the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court, which was seen as a substantial threat to Senator Johnson during his lifetime.

The resolution, which sought to penalize individuals involved in the Liberian Civil War, was signed by 27 members of the Senate, including Senator Nimely, on April 9, 2024. This came after a visit by U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack and her team, who met with House Speaker Fonati Jonathan Koffa at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.

During the funeral, Senator Nimely recounted his relationship with Senator Johnson, stating, “Senator Johnson never ceased to call me during the night. If I missed his call at 9:00 PM, he would call again at 10:00 PM to explain why he had called. Every time I gave him my opinion, he would say, ‘You are the educated one, if you say so, I believe you.’ Senator Johnson always supported me. He was the only warlord who returned to Liberia and built a church. For those of you who read the Bible daily, what does God tell you about forgiveness?” Senator Nimely recounted.

The timing and nature of Speaker Koon’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from Liberians, who took to social media to express their displeasure. Many citizens felt that Speaker Koon's actions showed a lack of respect for the solemn occasion and were unbecoming of someone in his high-ranking position. Critics described his comments as immature and a disregard for the dignity associated with his role.

The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions within Liberia's political landscape, particularly regarding the legacy of the civil war and efforts to address its aftermath through mechanisms like the proposed War and Economic Crimes Court.