MONROVIA – In a startling development surrounding the December 18, 2024, Capitol Building arson case, the family of accused suspect John Nyanti has stepped forward with explosive claims against the Government of Liberia. They allege that Nyanti’s recent return to the country from Ghana and his subsequent detention were orchestrated under coercive conditions and bolstered by broken promises made by state security officials.
Speaking to reporters in Monrovia, Madam Priscilla Nyanti, sister of the accused and official spokesperson for the family, outlined what she described as a troubling campaign by state actors to manipulate her brother into serving as a government witness. According to her, John had sought refuge in Ghana after the Capitol arson incident, fearing for his life amid growing political tensions.
But on June 6, she said, he was brought back to Liberia under the pretense of cooperating with the state in a case targeting former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers. “This was never about justice,” Madam Nyanti said. “This was a calculated move to use John as a pawn in a much larger political game.”
She alleged that the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency, working through a cousin, Mr. Koffa Nyanti, arranged for John’s return with the promise of full immunity, a US$50,000 compensation package, and resettlement to a European country. However, she claims that only US$2,000 was paid, and the rest of the deal has not been honored.
The family’s suspicions deepened, she said, after Mr. Koffa Nyanti, the alleged key intermediary, was rewarded with an appointment as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Special Envoy for Trade and Investment. “That appointment was no coincidence,” Priscilla said. “It smells of a payoff.”
She further detailed that upon arrival in Liberia, John was taken to the Lifestyle Hotel in Thinkers Village and held there under surveillance by state security operatives. Ten days later, he was escorted to the LNP Headquarters, where he was reportedly asked to complete a three-page questionnaire to prepare for court testimony.
However, in a move that caught authorities off guard, John reportedly refused to follow through, asserting his innocence and declaring his intent to defend himself in court rather than implicate others for benefits that, according to the family, were never fully delivered. “He will not lie under pressure,” his sister declared. “He knows the truth and is prepared to speak it in court.”
Contacted for a response, Liberia National Police Spokesperson Cecelia Clarke declined to comment, stating only that she would need clearance from superiors before addressing the matter. Requests for comment sent to the Ministry of Justice and the NSA had not been returned as of press time.
The allegations raise important concerns about the government’s handling of sensitive legal proceedings and its alleged reliance on questionable deals with suspects in high-stakes political cases. Legal observers and civil society groups are now calling for an independent review to ensure the integrity of the judicial process.
