By Jacqueline Dennis
The legal team of former House Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa and three others has filed a “motion for discovery” before Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A”.
The defense prays the court to compel the Prosecution to furnish them with all the pieces of evidence it relied on to indict and prosecute them, and order a speedy trial consistent with their constitutional rights and grant all further relief and remedies the court may deem proper, just and legal.
The four lawmakers, including Koffa, Dixon W. Seboe, Abu S. Kamara and Jacob C. Debbie, were charged by the government for the alleged crimes of Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to commit murder, Aggravated Assault, Illegal Possession of Firearm, Release of destructive Forces, recklessly endangering Another person & Theft of Property. Subsequently, the defendants were arrested by the Monrovia City Court on May 16, 2025.
However, the defendant claimed in their motion that having been arrested and placed under the jurisdiction of the Monrovia City Court, they posted a valid Property Valuation Bond to secure their day-to-day appearance in Court whenever they are required to appear for trial, as required by law.
The Motion stated, the Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco transferred the said cause of Action to the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “A”, after the hearing of preliminary examination and the said Magistrate Judge held that probable cause was established by the Prosecution consistent with the evidence adduced in court.
Following the securing of the bond, the defendants through their lawyers, on August 1, 2025 filed a motion for discovery in which he said that despite fulfilling all the legal requirement, the government has failed and refused to produce it evidence for the commencement of the trial.
The motion argues that the Prosecution has refused and failed to produce the said evidence relied upon to charge the said co-Movants/co-defendants, contrary to the practices and procedures of the jurisdiction. The defense disclosed that the sole purpose of this Motion for Discovery is consistent with the principle of notice, and to afford then the opportunity to traverse the averments as couched in the indictment along with the evidence, and to exculpate, vindicate, or exonerate themselves from the crimes charged levied against them by the Prosecution, amongst other things.
The four lawmakers, in their motion denied ever having met with the other co-defendants with the intent to commit the crimes charged, they also denied any knowledge of the crimes charged, therefore pray the court for a speedy trial consistent with their fundamental rights guaranteed in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
The defense further indicated that the Motion for Discovery will lead to compel the Prosecution to furnish them with all the pieces of evidence the Prosecution relied on to indict them, while submitting that it’s been more than forty-two (42) days since the Co-Movants/Co-Defendants were served with the said writ of arrest and indictment, amongst other things.
