Liberian News: Koffa, Others Counting The Cost

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Monrovia-Former Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fornati Koffaand four other Representatives, now alleged partners in crimes, are counting the cost of the humiliation visited upon them by their indictment, detention and subsequent incarcerating in connection to the December 18 , 2024 Capitol Building fire disaster.

Since last Friday, they are yet to enjoy the comfort of their expensive and fully-air-conditioned abodes.

The four men and a woman were formally invited to the headquarters of the LNP for “meeting” that later turned to be a trap to bring them under the ambiance of the law on account of their alleged respective roles in the December 18 fire disaster.

Arresting and charging them is an outcome of a labelled ‘pensive, breathtaking and high-profile investigative process’ involving state security agencies.

Former Speaker Koffa of Grand Kru County 2ndDistrict, Representatives Abu Kamara of the 15th District of Montserrado, Priscilla Cooper of 2nd District of Montserrado, Dixon Seboe of 16thDistrict of Montserrado and Rufus Debee of Grand County less importantly pleaded their innocence, as the LNP, based on the weight and enormity of evidence gathered, went ahead with charges against them.

According to the LNP, the concerned lawmakers planned, participated, coordinated, aided and abated the arson on the Capitol Building that left the entire Joint Chambers and adjacent portions completely annihilated.

How it started

The entire episode stemmed from the leadership impasse at the House of Representatives which began with the removal of the former Speaker by a group of Representatives who later became to be known as majority bloc – meaning they had more numbers than the other folks that opposed the campaign to get rid of the former speaker.

They had carved a Resolution to remove the Speaker of the august body, citing corruption, budget tempering, and bringing the HoR into public disparagement – all of which he denied and characterized as baseless and pure political gimmick.

The rigmarole began October 17, 2024 while the former Speaker was with President Joseph Boakai in Rome, Italy where they met with late Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The move was thwarted by Representatives Melvin Cole, Abu Kamara, Yekeh Kolubah, Frank Saah Foko and few others, all stalwarts of the Congress of Democratic Change (CDC), except Representative Kolubah.

They blocked and locked the main chambers to stop the coup plotters from gathering and passing on the Resolution.

As a proof of determination,  the opposing lawmakers proceeded with the election of Richard Koon, a ranking member of the ruling Unity Party (UP), as Speaker, a move that further nailed Speaker’s casket and hardened his chance of regaining control of the two-chambered house.

On December 17, 2024, ordinary Liberians and partisans of opposition political parties took to the streets in a peaceful protest to express opposition to the situation on Capitol Hill.

The protest was quelled by gun-toting officers of the Liberia National Police, who used excessive force including alleged discharging of life bullets at protesters, wounding as many protesters as possible.

A day after the protest, fire engulfed the capitol building, destroying the Joint Chambers which was being used by the group of lawmakers opposed to then Speaker Koffa’s leadership, and vowed not to sit under his gavel.

The destruction of the capitol building was heavily condemned by Liberians, with some terming a politically-motivated action.

The LNP immediately launched investigations into what happened, and later determined it to be an arson attack, meaning the fire was deliberately caused.

Then Speaker Koffa, Rep. Melvin Cole, Representative Saah Foko were invited for questioning by Police authority, apparently based on a tipoff.

They were later released with no charges brought against them. Days later, Police apprehended few persons in relation to the fire accident, among them a staffer in the office of the former Speaker, Thomas Edriech.

Supreme Court intervention

However, apparently realizing that he was losing the battle, then Speaker ran to the Supreme Court of Liberia with a writ of Prohibition that prayed the highest Court to stop the action of lawmakers.

The court in its ruling failed to state whether the either of divided blocs was in the wrong or right. It stated that anything action that contravened the Constitution was ultra-virus, and urged them to return to status quo.

The ruling however sparked controversy, with many criticizing the Court for passing an unclear judgment in a matter that carried huge national weight.

Taking advantage of the unclearness of the ruling, the Executive Branch of Government however decided to do business with the majority bloc based on the interpretation of the Court the ruling by Justice Minister, Cllr. Oswald Tweh.

Cllr. Tweh interpreted that the Court ruling had favored the majority bloc which the Executive Branch had previously announced it would do business with, further sidelining then Speaker Koffa.

In light of the obscurity that marred Justice Tweh’s action, former Speaker ran back to the Supreme Court with a Bill of Information, seeking the highest court to throw light on the previous ruling that was deemed ambiguous.

In April, the Supreme Court rendered judgment in the bill of information, declaring that the majority bloc was in violation of the Constitution.

According to the Court, it was legally inconceivable for the august body to have elected a Speaker when the duly elected Speaker was not incapacitated either by sickness, death or resignation.

Instead of calming the political storm, the ruling further exacerbated the impasse. President Joseph Boakai, in a statement that preceded the ruling, said the government would business with the “constitutional quorum,” which is the majority bloc, although he acknowledged the court’s judgment in the matter.

However, then Speaker Koffa, with no light at the end of the tunnel for him, announced his resignation as Speaker of the House in effort to bring to imbroglio to an end.

Many hailed him for the bold decision to resign after the Supreme Court had ruled him as the legitimate Speaker. Others believed the former Speaker should have tendered his resignation for the sake of peace.

Also, members of the House convened the next day under the gavel of Deputy Speaker, and election of a new speaker held with then Majority Bloc self-styled Speaker Richard Koon coming on top ahead of Representative Musa Bility.

Koon’s election as legitimate Speaker seized the political rancor that spanned over seven months, but it did not bring what happened to the Capitol Building to an end.

Senate’s summon of security officials

Meanwhile, not much was heard of the Capitol Building fire incident, not even the case being heard at the civil law court, a situation that claimed the attention of the Liberian Senate.

Senator Amara Konneh had urged the Senate to inquire of relevant security officials the state of the case, citing citizens’ concerns and interest.

On last Tuesday, the Senate accordingly invited concerned security officials to provide update on the case, at which time they indicated that the case was still being reviewed and investigation ongoing.

They declined to provide details into the extent of their investigation, citing its sensitive nature.

A day or two after the Senate probe, the LNP made a formal request through the Chief Clerk, seeking a meeting with seven lawmakers including former Speaker Koffa, Melvin Cole, Abu Kamara, Priscilia Cooper, Frank SaahFoko, Dixon Seboe, and Rufus Debee. Except for Representative Priscilia Cooper, the rest of the lawmakers are ranking members of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

On Friday, the invited lawmakers complied with the invitation for a meeting with the LNP authority, and after hours of breathtaking introspection in the issue, five of the seven lawmakers were formally charged with various crimes for what the police called their alleged respective roles in the fire incident.

Having spent a night at the LNP headquarters, they eventually taken to the Monrovia Central Prison where they are currently detained.

The charges brought against them

According to the LNP, further investigations revealed compelling evidence linking several individuals including Hon. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Hon. Dixon Seboe, and Jacob C. Debbie to the orchestration and financing of the attack.

The police said investigators found credible links to sabotage efforts dating back to November 2024by Jonathan Fonati Koffa (former Speaker of the House of Representatives), and charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, and Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4).

Also, the LNP charged that Abu Kamara & Jacob C. Debee participated in planning meetings and facilitated logistical support, and charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with 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).

Meanwhile, the police said Thomas Isaac Etheridge (alias Tom) employee of the Capitol Building, Chief of Maintenance, Office of Representative Jonathan Fonati Koffa involved in damaging the chambers on November 10, 2024, and setting fire on December 18, 2024.

He is being charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with 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), Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4), release of Destructive Forces (Chapter 15, Section 15.4)

For  Eric Susay, Police said he participated in the December 17 riot and December 18 arson attack, stole a police firearm and physically assaulted an officer, and is charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with 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), Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4), Rioting Failure to Disperse (Chapter 17, Section 17.1), Theft of Property (Chapter 15, Section 15.51(, and Aggravated Assault (Chapter 14, Section 14.20).

Also, the police said Steven Broh, a Capitol Building employee assigned to maintenance participated in the December 18 arson attack and is charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with 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), Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4).

Also charged is Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), a Resident of New Kru Town, who the police said involved in planning and execution of the December 18 attack. Under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, he is charged with 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), Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4), And so forth for all remaining suspects, maintaining the original legal references exactly as provided.)

Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman told reporters last Friday that the destruction of the Capitol Building’s Joint Chambers represents a direct assault on the foundation of our democracy and governance.

“The suspects identified are currently being held at Monrovia Central Prison awaiting trial, with prosecution proceeding under full adherence to due process,” he said.

He urged citizens to remain calm, peaceful, and vigilant while supporting national security efforts. Let this serve as a clear message: the LNP will not tolerate any act that threatens public safety or the integrity of our national institutions.

Regardless of what might happen in due course, Liberians are of the views that the detained lawmakers are now counting the cost of the ongoing events which might have a long-lasting scares not only on their political lives, but also their social and personal lives.

If found guilty, the suspects will face lengthy jail sentences. The case, which has divided the country on social and political lines, is seen as the epitome of the government’s determination to put the rule of law first. For members of the opposition community, it is a sheer witch-hunt intended to silence political opponents.