The allegations have sparked political controversy, with some viewing them as an attempt to smear Speaker Koffa.
Monrovia – Three suspects arrested in connection with the December 18, 2024, fire at Liberia’s Capitol Building have alleged that they were tortured by agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) to falsely implicate Speaker J. Fonati Koffa in the incident. The Ministry of Justice has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Allegations of Torture
Andrew Sleh Lawson, one of the suspects, detailed harrowing allegations of physical abuse and coercion during his detention. He claimed that NSA agents repeatedly accused him of being paid by Speaker Koffa to burn down the Capitol Building.
“They (NSA agents) said we have videos for you where Fonati Koffa is giving you money to burn down the Capitol Building. ‘My response: If you play the video, I’ll give you the instruction now to do what you think that will take away my life,” Lawson said.
Lawson further claimed that the agents referenced other individuals allegedly on the NSA payroll, enticing him to corroborate their accusations against the Speaker to also offer him a job.
“The other guy came from behind me with the mineral bottle and beat it on my back. They said tell us the truth today, we have a package for you. We have too many people who are on our payroll at NSA here…”
He added: They did plenty things to us. We were stripped naked and tortured severely all because they were only wanted me to say Fonati made us to burn the Capitol Building for which I had no idea of. Fonati has never called me one day to say go and do the wrong thing for me.”
Lawson recounted that Speaker Koffa has been strict with him and colleagues on how they go about criticizing public officials. “It was once upon a time that I posted about Jeremiah Koung and I was suspended for one month because he said I criticized the Vice president, and he is part of the government. That should not be the way I should play my politics. I am in government I can’t be there to criticized my colleagues. And he asked me to take my post down and I did.”
Albert Weah, another suspect, shared similar experiences, asserting that he was blindfolded and interrogated about his alleged involvement in the fire. “They tied my face and asked if Fonati gave me money to burn the Capitol Building. I told them no. I was arrested on December 17 and released on December 19, but the Capitol Building was burned on December 18,” Weah said.
Thomas Etheridge, the third suspect, recounted a chilling ordeal, claiming he was stripped naked and beaten by NSA agents. “They told me one man can never fight the government. They accused me of buying gas and calling people to burn the building. When I denied it, they knocked me to the ground, beat me for over five minutes, and threatened to sodomize me,” Etheridge alleged.
Ministry of Justice Responds
The Ministry of Justice has denied the accusations, describing them as fabricated and an attempt to shift blame. Speaking to reporters, Minister of Justice said:
“Investigation into the Capitol fire is progressing, and we will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt or misrepresent these efforts… Any individual, be they a lawmaker or not, found to be involved in the arson will be treated with the full measure of the law.” – Cllr. Tweh said.
The Ministry also emphasized that the investigation into the Capitol Building fire is ongoing and that it will not be derailed by what it described as “desperate attempts to undermine the credibility of the process.”
Political Implications
The allegations have sparked political controversy, with some viewing them as an attempt to smear Speaker Koffa. The Speaker, who is facing political challenges, has not commented on the matter. However, he and his supporters have called for an independent investigation into the fire and the alleged mistreatment of the suspects.
Civil society organizations and human rights advocates have expressed concern over the allegations, calling for transparency in the investigation and urging the government to respect the rights of detainees.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Amid growing public outcry, the Liberia National Bar Association and other advocacy groups have called for an independent probe into both the Capitol Building fire and the allegations of torture.
“This is a critical moment for our democracy. The government must ensure that the investigation is free from political interference and that the rights of all individuals are protected,” said renowned a human right advocate, citing anonymity.
As the controversy unfolds, the fire that gutted Liberia’s Capitol Building remains a symbol of the deepening political tensions in the country. The truth behind the incident and the suspects’ allegations could have far-reaching implications for Liberia’s governance and the credibility of its security agencies.
