MONROVIA – Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice has scheduled Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. for its final ruling on a motion to suppress evidence in a high-profile criminal case involving more than a dozen defendants accused of multiple violent offenses.
The case, presided over by Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, has attracted significant public attention due to the number of defendants and the gravity of the charges, which include attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, reckless burning and explosion, criminal solicitation, facilitation, and reckless endangerment.
The motion to suppress evidence was filed by defense lawyers representing several defendants, among them J. Fonati Kofa, Dixon W. Seboe, Jacob C. Debbie, Kivi Bah (alias Kaba), Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), Stephen M. Broh, John Nyanti, Patience Bestman, Grace Johnson, Abu Kamara, Christian Kofa, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, and Etheridge, along with others yet to be identified. The defense has argued that certain pieces of evidence were obtained illegally or are irrelevant to the charges, and therefore should not be admitted during trial.
The Republic of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Justice, is the respondent in the matter and has strongly opposed the motion, insisting that the evidence in question is both lawful and critical to the prosecution’s case.
This legal battle is unfolding against the backdrop of one of Liberia’s most devastating incidents in recent history: the Capitol Building fire. On December 18, 2024, flames broke out at around 6:20 a.m., severely damaging the nation’s legislative headquarters. Although no casualties were reported, the fire disrupted legislative activities and exposed serious vulnerabilities in the security of government facilities.
In March 2025, an independent investigation conducted by the Fire Rescue Alliance (FRA) led by retired U.S. fire chiefs Jerry Streich, Ken Prillaman, and Mark Lynde concluded that the blaze was no accident. The FRA report, submitted to the Liberia National Police on March 4, 2025, ruled out electrical malfunction and confirmed the fire was deliberately set with the use of accelerants. Investigators determined that the blaze originated near the Speaker’s podium in the joint legislative chamber, an area that sustained the most extensive damage.
The report revealed that the flames spread quickly across the west wall balcony and up to the ceiling, fueled by flammable materials such as carpeting and foam chairs. A chilling discovery was also made: eight one-gallon containers positioned near key exit points, which investigators believe were deliberately placed to block evacuation and maximize destruction. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of ignitable liquids, while burn patterns indicated intentional arson. Witnesses further reported hearing windows shatter on the building’s west side, allowing oxygen to feed the flames and accelerate the blaze.
The FRA’s findings ruled out any possibility of accidental causes, including electrical faults. Maintenance staff confirmed that air conditioning units were not in operation at the time, and vandalism had already severed external electrical conductors in the affected area.
Given the severity of these findings, the Capitol fire has become central to the ongoing case before Criminal Court “A.” Several of the defendants named in the current proceedings have been linked to allegations surrounding the destructive incident, intensifying public demand for accountability.
In a Notice of Assignment issued on September 17, 2025, Clerk of Court Gabriel J. Smith commanded all parties and their legal counsels to appear for Judge Willie’s ruling at the Temple of Justice. Legal analysts say the decision will be pivotal, as the admissibility or exclusion of evidence connected to the Capitol fire and related charges could determine the strength of the prosecution’s case..
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