Liberia: Former Speaker Koffa, Four Lawmakers Charged, Detained Over Capitol ‘Arson Attack’ - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia – Former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and four members of the House of Representatives are spending the night in police custody after being formally charged by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for their alleged roles in the recent arson attack at the Capitol Building.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) | websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking at a press conference late Friday evening at LNP Headquarters, Inspector General Gregory Coleman said seven lawmakers were invited for questioning in connection with the incident. Of the group, two lawmakers were released, while five, including the former Speaker, remain in temporary detention.

Those released include Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko and Bong County District #3 Representative Marvin Cole.

Charged and detained are Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Montserrado County District #16 Representative Dixon Seboe, Montserrado County District #15 Representative Abu Kamara, Representative Jacob Debee, and Representative Priscilla Cooper.

“These individuals will spend the night at the Liberia National Police Headquarters,” IG Coleman stated.

According to Coleman, evidence including witness testimonies and phone call logs indicates that the attack was not random but a coordinated and deliberate act — an attempt not only against the Capitol Building but against Liberia’s democracy.

“Further investigations have linked high-profile individuals, including Koffa, Seboe, Kamara, and Debee. They played significant roles,” Coleman said.

He further alleged that Koffa used his official aide, identified only as Thomas, to carry out coordination efforts, often citing instructions “from the chief.”

Koffa faces multiple charges including arson, criminal mischief, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy.

“No one is above the law,” the Police Inspector General emphasized. “Accountability must take precedence in Liberia’s legal system. We will not be deterred by threats and will resist any form of domestic coercion.”

Allegations of Political Persecution

Meanwhile, critics have described the charges against Koffa and his colleagues as politically motivated and lacking merit.

The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), along with the WE THE PEOPLE Movement and the July 17 Protest Coalition, have condemned what they termed a growing pattern of secret arrests, arbitrary detentions, and political persecution under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.

According to STAND, these actions—allegedly orchestrated by the National Security Agency (NSA)—violate Liberia’s domestic legal framework and breach international human rights norms to which the country is a signatory.

STAND expressed concern over the alleged covert arrest and prolonged detention of innocent civilians, including Mr. Bacchus Karpeh, who was reportedly seized from his workplace without a warrant and held beyond the constitutional time limit without being formally charged.

Even more alarming, the group added, are reports suggesting that former Speaker Koffa and other sitting lawmakers may be the latest targets in what appears to be a broader effort to silence political dissent.

“These developments not only raise red flags nationwide but also seriously damage Liberia’s credibility on the international stage—especially following its recent election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),” the group said.

STAND further noted: “The actions of the Boakai administration violate both the spirit and letter of international human rights treaties to which Liberia is a party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). These instruments prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and guarantee due process, freedom of expression, and protection from political persecution.”