Koffa, Other Lawmakers Thrown in South Beach -Govt. Links them to Capital Building Fire Incident

MONROVIA – The Liberia National Police (LNP) has finally charged former House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa along with four other lawmakers with arson, conspiracy, solicitation, attempted murder and criminal facilitation with regards to the December 18, 2024 Capitol Building fire. The LNP says the first incident cost US$8.6 million in infrastructural damage. Up to press time, former Speaker Koffa and three other opposition lawmakers are incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison, popularly known as South Beach  – a scene that refreshes memories of the dark days of Liberia’s nasty politics. THE ANALYST reports.

In an emotionally paralyzing and politically petrifying drama last Friday, the government of Liberia via the Liberia National Police bundled up a group of apposition lawmakers and ganged them into the infamous Monrovia Central Prison, the world watching through the social media.

Earlier on Thursday, police ‘indictment’ in the Capitol fire indictment was announced by the Police Inspector General Coleman, implicating former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, lawmakers Priscilla Cooper, Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara and Jacob C. Debbie.

Representatives Marvin Cole and Frank Saah Foko were also invited but subsequently released by the police, before they suffered what some pundits call Friday’s politically induced ordeal.

According to LNP Inspector General Coleman, the destruction of the Capitol Building’s Joint Chambers represents a direct assault on the foundation of Liberia’s democracy and governance, though some observers discount the assertions, saying the Unity Party was unleashing vendetta for how the ruling establishing got a bloody nose in the corridors of the country’s justice system during the House of Representatives’ power feud. 

“The suspects identified are currently being held at Monrovia Central Prison awaiting trial, with prosecution proceeding under full adherence to due process. The Liberia National Police urges all citizens to remain calm, peaceful, and vigilant while supporting national security efforts,” IG Coleman said during the LNP Ministry of Information press briefing. “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.”

During the press briefing, IG Coleman disclosed that investigators found credible links to sabotage efforts by former Speaker Jonathan Koffa dating back to November 2024. Cllr. Koffa was thus accordingly charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4).

On the other hand, Representatives Abu Kamara and Jacob C. Debee, allegedly found to have participated in planning meetings and facilitating logistical support, were charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia for committing 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).

Other co-conspirators earlier remanded and charged included Thomas Isaac Etheridge (alias Tom), an employee of the Capitol Building, who also served as Chief of Maintenance in the office of Representative Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

The LNP investigation accordingly charged him with involvement in damaging the chambers on November 10, 2024, and setting fire on December 18, 2024. Etheridge was 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); and Release of Destructive Forces (Chapter 15, Section 15.4).

Among the alleged co-conspirators was Eric Susay who the LNP investigation said participated in the December 17 riot and December 18 arson attack in which he stole a police firearm and physically assaulted an officer.

Mr. Susay was accordingly 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).

The LNP investigation also included Mr. Steven Broh, an employee of the Capitol Building assigned to Maintenance Department, who the LNP said participated in the December 18 arson attack. He was subsequently 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).

Among the least high profile Capitol fire indictees, Mr. Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), a resident of New Kru Town, was said to be involved in planning and execution of the December 18 attack, and he was charged under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia with committing 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).

Arrest Backlash

Meanwhile, in the wake of the government’s arrest of those who it considered linchpins in the December 18, 2024 burning of the Capitol Building, key opposition members are incensed over the opposition community’s seeming indifference over the whole Capitol Building saga which saw House Speaker ousted and charged.

Samuel Jackson is a strong member of the opposition community, a man considered as the living symbol of multiparty democracy struggles in Liberia. He said the opposition community is weak, therefore the Boakai government is right to right roughshod on their rights.

“The opposition is weak. Ineffective. A bunch of cowards,” he wrote on a Facebook page. “Boakai sees their weakness. Weah will not respond as a strong leader. The P reminds me of the True Whig Party (TWP). Power greedy. Autocratic. Not willing to coexist with a strong opposition. The current administration is lucky I am old, feeble and my movements are limited. They would have seen the power of the masses. Slum dwellers. Villagers. Market women’s children. That they can arrest a former speaker and the streets don’t tremble says a lot about the new dispensation,” Mr. Jackson lamented in a weekend social media post.

Nimba County District #7 lawmaker Musa Bility also believes the Liberian police is overstepping its bounds by arresting and humiliating the opposition lawmakers.

“President Boakai is not running the country properly. What he’s doing is wrong. He is deliberately trying to stir conflict. What happened is that, if you are supposed to just call the man, charge him, take him to court, and then the court decides to send him to jail or grant him bail, nobody will hold him responsible. But you use your arrest power, call the man on a Friday, say nothing to him for six hours and wait until the court closes, and then keep him in your holding cell, that’s abuse of power.

“The Unity Party folks know that it’s an abuse of power, and I am not going to speak to the merits and demerits of the case. I said this to my fellow opposition that we are here because this is where brought ourselves. The government has every right to arrest anybody and charge them. But how you exercise that right is what matter,” Bility said in a live talk show interview over the weekend.