LIBERIA – The Monrovia City Court opened preliminary hearings on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, into a politically charged and deeply controversial case involving several members of the Liberian Legislature accused of orchestrating and facilitating an alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building. The Liberia National Police (LNP) has formally charged five lawmakers, including the high-profile former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, in connection with what authorities say was a deliberate plot to set fire to a symbol of Liberia’s democracy.
In a packed courtroom under heightened security, the proceedings began with the prosecution laying out what it called “strong preliminary evidence” to justify moving the case to Criminal Court ‘A’ for a full trial. The prosecution is led by Solicitor General Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah and includes County Attorney Richard Scott and Cllr. Bobby Livingston. On the other side, the accused lawmakers are being defended by legal heavyweights, including former Associate Justice Wright and Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi.
Inspector Peter Johnson, a criminal investigator with the LNP, took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness. His testimony was explosive and detailed, drawing a direct line between each of the accused and what he characterized as deliberate, premeditated roles in the attack. Johnson testified that Representative Fonati Koffa was labeled by the police as the major financier behind the plan, citing a now-deleted social media post reading “ALARMO,” which the police argue was a coded signal linked to the attack.
Further implicating Koffa, Johnson presented audio evidence which he claimed captured the former Speaker’s voice discussing the plan to burn part of the Capitol. While Koffa reportedly acknowledged during questioning that the voice in the audio was his, he denied ever participating in the conversation or any plot. The other defendants, including Rep. Abu Kamara, dismissed the audio as artificially generated.
The testimony did not end with Koffa. Johnson stated that Representative Dixon Siebo was identified as the operational “architect” of the plot, allegedly helping two individuals escape the scene. Representative Jacob Debe was accused of criminal facilitation for allegedly knowing about the plan in advance and failing to alert the authorities. Rep. Kamara’s vehicles were allegedly used in staging the operation, according to Johnson’s testimony.
Adding to the complexity of the case, Montserrado County District #5 Representative Priscilla Cooper, also charged in the matter, is expected to request a severance of trial, seeking to distance herself from the four other accused lawmakers. Through her lawyer, she waived her right to the preliminary examination, fast-tracking her journey to a full trial in Criminal Court ‘A’.
The courtroom proceedings were anything but routine. Johnson’s testimony was interrupted multiple times for bathroom breaks, prompting frustration among defense attorneys and their clients. One defense source described the day’s proceedings as a “waste of time,” highlighting growing tensions and impatience as the trial looms.
Outside the courthouse, the scene was equally dramatic. As Fonati Koffa entered his vehicle after the hearing, he was asked by a journalist to confirm rumors that Liberia’s Police Inspector General had called him and asked him to apologize. Koffa flatly denied the claim, responding bluntly, “I didn’t receive any call from the police. Tell the IG never to call me.”
The matter is set to resume on Wednesday, June 11, with continued cross-examination of Inspector Johnson by the defense team. The stakes are high. The court’s decision on whether to move this case to full trial could have far-reaching implications for the country’s political stability, rule of law, and public trust in government institutions.
