A war of words has erupted between former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, and the Bukonjadeh Group of Companies over an alleged US $12,500 loan said to have been taken in 2024.
Appearing on the Punch Breakfast Show, Bukonjadeh Group CEO Elton Johns claimed that Cllr. Koffa borrowed the money during a political impasse at the House and has “deliberately refused” to pay it back, despite interventions by Representatives Ellen Attoh and Dixon Sebo. Johns further alleged that the delay was causing “serious setbacks” to his company’s operations, and warned that legal action would follow in the coming days.
A series of messages in the position of this paper reportedly exchanged between Bukonjadeh representatives and Cllr. Koffa or his aides were shared to the media, in which company officials repeatedly appealed for payment, citing financial strain on their business. The authenticity and context of these messages have not been independently verified.
In a swift response, lawyers representing the former Speaker issued a formal demand letter to Bukonjadeh, calling the claims “grave and injurious” to their client’s reputation.
The letter, dated August 14, 2025, demands that Mr. Johns either produce evidence of the alleged loan such as a signed agreement, payment records, or acknowledgment of receipt or issue a public retraction within five days via the same medium used to make the allegation.
Failure to do so, the lawyers warned, would result in legal action, including a possible defamation suit.
Cllr. Koffa, through his legal team, maintains that the allegation is unfounded. Bukonjadeh Group, meanwhile, insists that its claim is legitimate and says it will respond to the demand letter in due course.
The matter has sparked debate in Monrovia, with many watching to see whether the case will be resolved privately or tested in court.
