George Koukou
Encyclopedia
George Koukou was acting Speaker
of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
from 17 March 2005 to January 2006. Originally from Nimba County
, he now resides in the capital city of Monrovia
. He is a member of the Mano ethnic group
.
Prior to becoming a member of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, Koukou was a Senator from Nimba County. Koukou replaced George Dweh
as Speaker of the transitional legislature on 17 March 2005 after Dweh was suspended indefinitely on 14 March for spending money without proper authorization.
On 17 July 2007, Koukou was arrested along with several others, including former army chief of staff Charles Julue, for alleged participation in a coup plot against President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He and Julu were charged with treason. Koukou has claimed he does not have the money to hire a lawyer. On 27 August, Monrovia Magistrate Court Judge Milton Taylor ruled that his court could not try Koukou because treason was above its jurisdiction, and he transferred the trial to Criminal Court "A".
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
The National Transitional Legislative Assembly was Liberia's legislative body during the country's transition from civil war to democratic rule .-Background:...
from 17 March 2005 to January 2006. Originally from Nimba County
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
, he now resides in the capital city of Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
. He is a member of the Mano ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
.
Prior to becoming a member of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, Koukou was a Senator from Nimba County. Koukou replaced George Dweh
George Dweh
George Dweh is a Liberian politician and a member of the ethnic Krahn group operating in the LURD and the MODEL faction groups. He is also cousin to late President Samuel K. Doe, a Krahn who seized power in a 1980 coup...
as Speaker of the transitional legislature on 17 March 2005 after Dweh was suspended indefinitely on 14 March for spending money without proper authorization.
On 17 July 2007, Koukou was arrested along with several others, including former army chief of staff Charles Julue, for alleged participation in a coup plot against President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He and Julu were charged with treason. Koukou has claimed he does not have the money to hire a lawyer. On 27 August, Monrovia Magistrate Court Judge Milton Taylor ruled that his court could not try Koukou because treason was above its jurisdiction, and he transferred the trial to Criminal Court "A".