Monrovia, Liberia- Five members of the House of Representatives, including former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, have spent three nights in detention at the Monrovia Central Prison following their arraignment on multiple criminal charges in connection with the recent arson attack on the Capitol Building.
The lawmakers- Koffa (Grand Kru County), Dixon Seboe (Montserrado County District #16), Abu Kamara (Montserrado District #15), Prescilla Cooper (Montserrado County District #5), and Jacob Debee, were formally charged before the Monrovia City Court on Saturday, June 7.
The charges include Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Facilitation, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, and Criminal Conspiracy.
Initially held at the Liberia National Police Headquarters, the five lawmakers were later transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison, commonly known as South Beach-on the order of Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco, following a preliminary hearing on Saturday, June 7.
At a press conference held Friday, Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman accused the lawmakers of providing both financial and logistical support to those responsible for the Capitol Building fire.
“Representatives Fonati Koffa, Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara, Prescilla Cooper, and Jacob Debee played significant roles,” Coleman alleged, during the press conference held at the LNP Headquarters.
The incident marks a historic and controversial development in Liberia’s post-war political era, with sitting lawmakers facing some of the gravest charges ever brought against members of the National Legislature.
Legal proceedings were temporarily delayed amid heightened security concerns and procedural objections from defense attorneys.
Nonetheless, the court ordered all five lawmakers to be remanded pending further investigation and judicial review.
Public response to the arrests has been sharply divided. Supporters of the accused lawmakers claim the charges are politically driven and aimed at weakening opposition voices.
In contrast, others are calling for an impartial and thorough investigation and legal proceedings to determine the truth and safeguard the country’s democratic institutions.
As the matter unfolds in court, the Liberia National Police has not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests.
