Authorities of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on Friday charged former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and four other Lawmakers with arson related to the December 2024 fire that ravaged the third floor of Liberia’s Capitol Building, hosting members of the National Legislature.
The complaint said the five defendants during the riot “not only moved closely to each other in proximity, but also appeared and communicated to their staffers (co-defendants) before and while inside the Capitol Building, in an apparent effort to coordinate their efforts.”
Koffa is accused of being the master planner and financier of the attack on the Capitol Building.
The other Lawmakers charged in the case are: Abu Kamara of District #15; Priscilla A. Cooper, District#5; and Dixon W. Seboe, District #16, all of Montserrado County, as well as Jacob C. Debee of District#2, Grand Gedeh County.
The defendants are charged with
with arson, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment, attempted murder among others.
J. Marvin Cole, Bong County District #3; and Frank Saah Foko, Montserrado County District #9; were later released after the investigation exonerated them from any wrongdoing.
Kamara and Debee were seen coordinating by holding multiple meetings with those people who were prior and during the protest that led to the setting ablaze of the Capitol Building.
Seboe also was seen using his office, where he disbursed the funds to the staffer to sponsor the key suspects.
Up to press time, the defendants were still at the headquarters of the police, even though the crimes of which they were charged for are bailable.
According to police sources, the defendants are expected to be forwarded to the Monrovia City Court for prosecution, hopefully tomorrow, Saturday.
