Monrovia, Liberia – Former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, along with sitting Representatives Jacob Debee, Abu B. Kamara, and Dixon Seboe, have pleaded not guilty to multiple criminal charges related to the alleged arson attack on Liberia’s Capitol Building. The pleas were entered on Monday, November 17, at Criminal Court “A” in the Temple of Justice following an indictment read by the court clerk.
The charges arise from a fire on December 18, 2024, which caused significant damage and political upheaval across the nation.
Defendants and Charges
In addition to the lawmakers, the indictment includes Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, Thomas Etheridge, and Stephen Broh. The defendants face a range of serious offenses, including:
- Arson
- Criminal Mischief
- Conspiracy
- Solicitation
- Intent to Commit Murder
- Aggravated Assault
- Illegal Possession of Firearms
- Release of Destructive Forces
- Reckless Endangerment
- Theft of Property
Preliminary Hearing Sparks Controversy
This case follows a preliminary hearing before Monrovia City Court Magistrate Ben L. Barco, where the defense challenged the prosecution’s reliance on unauthenticated social media evidence, often referred to as “open-source” intelligence. Despite these objections, the magistrate ruled that the case could proceed, forwarding it to Criminal Court “A” for a full trial.
Judge Rejects Motion to Suppress Evidence
On September 24, 2025, Presiding Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie denied a 32-count defense motion aimed at suppressing key prosecution evidence. The defense argued that some evidence was obtained illegally and that several defendants were tortured by National Security Agency (NSA) officers to extract confessions. Judge Willie dismissed these claims, stating:
“This Court finds that the allegations of torture and sodomy are not supported by the medical findings or legal argumentation sufficient to warrant suppression of the evidence.”
He subsequently ordered the trial to proceed as scheduled on September 26, 2025.
Disputed Medical Evidence
Central to the defense’s motion was an independent medical evaluation by AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, conducted after the defendants declined examinations at the state-run JFK Medical Center. Lead physician Dr. Philip Zochonis Ireland noted that some defendants exhibited scar tissue and symptoms consistent with allegations of torture, but emphasized that the findings were limited, in part due to the defendants’ refusal of full genital and anal examinations. Judge Willie remarked that the defendants denied any sexual assault and cautioned that inconsistent claims could not reliably suppress evidence.
Defense Pushes Back
Following the ruling, Cllr. Koffa, who is among the defendants, sharply criticized the court’s interpretation of the medical report: “It is wrong for the court to generalize findings from one defendant’s medical report to all seven. Even within the report, some findings say ‘consistent with torture,’ while others say ‘could also be caused by other conditions.’” Koffa further questioned the prosecution’s case, labeling it politically motivated and weak, citing the absence of eyewitnesses, video footage, or forensic links, with the case primarily relying on call logs and audio recordings.
National Attention
The trial is poised to be one of Liberia’s most significant political and legal battles in recent history, with both national and international observers closely monitoring the proceedings. The case is widely regarded as a test of Liberia’s judicial independence and the capacity of the legal system to hold high-ranking officials accountable.
