MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberian Senate has decided to constitute a committee to investigate Grand Bassa’s Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence’s recent ‘assault’ on Montserrado’s Sen. Saah Joseph.

The Senate’s decision was made on Tuesday, August 27 after Joseph filed a letter of complaint to the general Senate body complaining about Karnga-Lawrence’s unprovoked physical assault and terroristic threats.

Joseph wrote that he was on his way out of the session when the lone female senator hurled insults at him and splashed hot water on his body in the presence of onlookers.

“Throughout this attack from Sen. Lawrence, I restrained myself from retaliating due to my respect for colleagues of the Liberia Senate,” he wrote.

“I beseech your inquest into this matter for appropriate sanctions as enshrined in keeping with our standing rules. I will make myself available to explain my ordeal, should you commence an inquiry as per my request in the soonest possible time.”

Minutes after last Thursday’s Senate session, Karnga-Lawrence wasted hot tea and subsequently slapped Joseph for the controversial manner in which he concluded a hearing with the joint security team. Sen. Joseph, who was presiding over the session, refused to take questions from eager senators after a presentation by both the Liberia National Police inspector general and a deputy justice minister.

After the presentation by the police inspector general, Joseph immediately received a motion from Bong’s Sen. Henry Yallah calling for the matter to be turned over to the Committee on National Security and Defense without allowing senators to ask questions.

Karnga-Lawrence was one of three senators who separately requested to have heads of security institutions appear before the Senate to address their concerns about the growing waves of electoral violence in the country. Karnga-Lawrence has since apologized for assaulting her colleague on radio stations and her social media after she initially appeared defiant about her actions.

In response to Sen. Joseph’s complaint about Karnga-Lawrence’s assault, the Senate directed the Senate president pro tempore Albert Chie to constitute a committee that will investigate the incident and report back to the general body.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah