Koffa, Others ordered transferred to Monrovia Central Prison

Former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers have been ordered transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison commonly known as South Beach after being formally arraigned before the Monrovia City Court on Saturday.
The move follows their indictment on multiple criminal charges related to the December 2024 fire at the Capitol Building. The four lawmakers including former Speaker Cllr. Koffa, Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara, and Jacob Debee were brought to court under heavy police escort by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP). They face serious allegations including arson, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy to commit arson.
The charges stem from a months-long investigation into the blaze that engulfed the Joint Chambers of the Legislature during a period of intense political turmoil.
Presiding Magistrate Jomah Jallah issued the order for pretrial detention after the lawmakers failed to post bail. Despite the bailable nature of the charges, the court ruled that they be held in custody at South Beach pending further proceedings. “The accused have been duly charged under the laws of Liberia, and this court is duty-bound to ensure due process,” Magistrate Jallah stated briefly before signing the transfer order.
The transfer of sitting members of the House of Representatives to the nation’s central prison has triggered a wave of public outcry and political condemnation. Critics argue that the move undermines democratic norms and raises concerns about the impartiality of the justice system.
Opposition political parties including the CDC, ANC, MOVEE, and CMC have denounced what they call the “weaponization of justice” by the ruling Unity Party-led government. Civil society organizations have also voiced alarm, calling the arrests a dangerous precedent.
Adding to the controversy, the Liberty Party an influential member of the governing coalition has broken ranks with the administration, voicing strong objections to the arrest and detention of its executive committee member, Rep. Priscilla Cooper. While Rep. Cooper was also charged in the case, she was released into the custody of her legal team late Saturday.
Legal analysts have raised concerns over the manner and timing of the arrests, particularly the government’s decision to detain the lawmakers late on a Friday, effectively delaying access to the courts and the opportunity to file a bond until the following week.
“These lawmakers are not flight risks. Holding them in jail under these conditions violates the spirit of due process,” one legal expert told Report Liberia.
Defense attorneys are now preparing to file a writ of habeas corpus, challenging the legality of the lawmakers’ continued detention and seeking immediate judicial review.
Saturday’s arraignment marks a dramatic escalation in what is shaping up to be one of Liberia’s most politically charged legal battles in recent history. The Capitol Fire investigation, once a quiet inquiry, has now erupted into a full-blown constitutional showdown with implications for governance, the rule of law, and Liberia’s democratic trajectory.
The Ministry of Justice has yet to issue a formal public statement, though sources suggest prosecutors are moving swiftly to prepare their case for trial.

Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia.