By G. Watson Richards
Verity News has observed that it has been nearly four months since Supreme Court Justice-in-Chambers Yussif D. Kaba placed a stay order on proceedings in the Capitol Building arson case, and the matter remains stalled.
The pause followed a petition for a writ of prohibition filed by lawyers representing former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and several co-defendants. In their petition, the defense team is asking the Supreme Court to prevent the lower court from continuing the trial, contending that it may be proceeding outside its legal authority.
The stay brought all activities in the case before Criminal Assizes “A” at the First Judicial Circuit Court in Montserrado County to a standstill.
An official communication signed by Cllr. Sam Mamulu, Clerk of the Supreme Court, stated that Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba, presiding in Chambers, cited the parties to a conference on March 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The notice directed that all parties appear and ordered that no further action be taken in the lower court pending the outcome of the conference.
With months passing and no final ruling announced, many Liberians are questioning what lies ahead for the high-profile case. Some are wondering whether the matter has been quietly abandoned, while others are concerned about the cost of prolonged delays to taxpayers.
There are also growing calls for clarity from the Supreme Court on when a definitive decision will be made regarding the petition and whether the trial will resume.
Legal observers note, however, that a stay order does not determine the merits of a case. Its purpose is to preserve the status quo while the Supreme Court considers whether the lower court should continue exercising jurisdiction.
The petition names Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Assizes “A” and the Republic of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Justice, as respondents.
The conference held at the Temple of Justice was expected to guide the next step, whether the writ of prohibition would be granted, denied, or referred to the full Bench of the Supreme Court for further consideration.
For now, the Capitol arson trial remains on hold, while the public still awaiting the Supreme Court to lift the stay order.
