THE MONTHS OF speculations that some members of the ‘Rule of Law Caucus’ of the House of Representatives in the 55th Legislature would be charged in connection to the unfortunate November 18, 2024 Capitol Building fire incident, is now over, as on Friday, June 6, 2025 as the Liberia National Police (LNP) charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia five opposition lawmakers with multiple crimes, including Arson (Chapter 15, Section 15.1), Criminal Mischief (Chapter 15, Section 15.5), Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Chapter 14, Section 14.23), Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder (Chapter 10, Section 10.1)
Criminal Facilitation (Chapter 10, Section 10.2), Criminal Solicitation (Chapter 10, Section 10.3) and Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4), for their alleged involvement.
ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2025, the Liberia National Police (LNP) wrote the House of Representatives requesting seven lawmakers who it had labelled as ‘Persons of Interests’ in the Capitol Building fire incident to appear for questioning.
THOSE INVITED ARE former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa of Grand Kru District #2, Marvin Cole of Bong County District #3, Dixon Seboe of Montserrado County District #16, Priscilla Cooper of Montserrado County District #5, Abu Kamara of Montserrado County District #15, Jacob C. Debee II of Grand Gedeh County District #3, and Frank Foko of Montserrado County District #9.
THE LNP, WHICH spearheaded the investigation, previously suggested that lawmakers from the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) were suspects. While details of their alleged roles remained unclear, the investigation shifted its focus to claims of deliberate arson as part of a coordinated plot.
THE FIRE, INITIALLY believed to be accidental, caused significant damage to key areas of the Capitol Building, including the Joint Chamber and parts of the fourth floor, with losses estimated at US$8.6 million.
THE HOUSE OF Representatives then granted the Liberia National Police’s request and on Friday, June 6, 2025 the seven lawmakers went to the LNP headquarters on Capitol Hill to cooperate with the police investigation. After hours of stay at the LNP headquarters, two Representatives – Frank Foko of Montserrado County District #9. and Marvin Cole of Bong County District #3 were told they were free to go and live their normal lives. Former Speaker Koffa was also earlier told to go, but few minutes while enroute to embark his vehicle that was parked waiting to convey him home, he was told to go back into the main building of the LNP-HQ.
BEFORE THE CLOSE of the day, the LNP in line with the investigation resolved and charged five of the lawmakers for their alleged roles in the Capitol Building fire saga. Those charged include four male lawmakers Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Dixon Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, and Jacob Debee—all the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and one female lawmaker Priscilla Cooper of the ruling Unity Party (UP) Alliance – Liberty Party.
IN KEEPING WITH the law, the LNP has 72 hours to hold a suspect and conclude investigation before charging them to court. All five lawmakers were then held at the LNP-HQ on Friday to be sent to court on Saturday, May 7, 2025. It was expected that since these alleged suspects were all sitting lawmakers of the House of Representative they would have been turned over to their lawyers on Friday and come to LNP-HQ on Saturday to be sent to court.
WHILE BEING HELD at the LNP-HQ news broke out that the only female alleged suspect, lawmaker Priscilla Cooper was released to her lawyer at night, while the rest of the four lawmakers were held and slept at the LNP headquarters on Friday night. It was anticipated by Liberians that everyone of them would have been given equal and fair treatment because they are all high-profile public officials of the Government of Liberia, but one was favoured and four were found of out favor.
AND SO, ON Saturday, June 7, 2025, when the four lawmakers, including former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Dixon Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, and Jacob Debee—all the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), were taken to court based on the charges filed against them by the Liberia National Police, Rep. Priscilla Cooper was not seen with them in the court. Saturday being a day where it was not possible for defense lawyers to obtain bail-bonds because the crimes are bailable, the four male lawmakers were remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison
CONTROVERSY BEGAN TO mount on social media when Representative Priscilla Cooper of the Liberty Party (UP Alliance) was left off the hook and not remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison like her fellow lawmakers. There was no reason stated publicly why Rep. Cooper avoided jail, thus raising sharp questions about judicial fairness and political favouritism.
LIBERIA IS NOTED to have copied the governance style of its traditional ally, the United States of America, that is distinguished for its unwavering commitment to the rule of law. We have witnessed how even the most influential individuals and billionaires under US jurisprudence are held accountable before the law, with the principle of being presumed innocent until proven guilty firmly in place.
HOWEVER, IT IS essential to remember that the responsibility lies with the government to present the necessary evidence for a conviction in a competent court. To assume that criminal behavior and reckless remarks will somehow escape justice is misguided.
THE SAYING, “THE law is the law,” holds true for everyone and must be enforced uniformly. The era of individuals believing themselves to be ‘above the law’ is over.
CONSIDER RECENT HISTORY: prominent figures such as the late deputy bank governor, a former associate justice, and a former chief justice all faced the law without chaos ensuing. Liberia as a nation endured then, and it will endure now.
ALMOST, EVERY LIBERIAN may have personal acquaintance among those accused, and The Liberian Post firmly believes in their innocence until proven otherwise. For justice to be served, the legal process must be upheld. Fortunately, those accused can seek recourse through the same legal framework if they are wrongfully accused or if their arrests were based on unjust motives.
THE LIBERIAN POST urges every Liberian to move past inflammatory rhetoric; violence and conflict do not discriminate, and our recent past should serve as a crucial reminder.
IN THE WORDS of the Inspector General (IG) of the Liberia National Police, Gregory Coleman the investigations leading to the charge of multiple crimes against the five lawmakers were properly carried out and produced the requisite results.
IGP COLEMAN THEN dispelled a perceived public notion by some Liberians regarding the nature of the investigation with some believing that the investigation had political undertone. “Let me be clear: this is not a political battle. This is a matter of justice. The law does not see colors or party lines it sees facts, and it demands accountability.”
HOWEVER, THE PREFERENTIAL treated given to Rep. Priscilla Cooper at the LNP-HQ and at the Court on Friday and Saturday respectively, where she was released to her lawyers while her fellow four lawmakers were remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison, sets a tone for early concern whether the trial will be free of political inference and undertone.
THE LIBERIAN POST calls on the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to carry out the Capitol Building trial involving the five lawmakers and other accused persons free of biases, unfairness, lack of transparency and political interference and manipulation against the interest of justice and the accused.
LIBERIANS WILL BE watching this high-profile trial with eager’s eyes and now is the time that the Judiciary proves doubters wrong about the perception that corruption persists within the judicial branch of government. Now is the time to prove that justice is blind and knows no one and at the same time, the judiciary should not back down to any political or executive influence that may jeopardize the adjudication of this milestone case. The public is watching.
