The Monrovia City Court has placed a travel ban on former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, along with four sitting lawmakers, in connection with a high-profile criminal investigation into the alleged burning of the Capitol Building.
Magistrate Ben Barco issued a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica over the weekend, ordering that Representatives Fonati Koffa, Abu Kamara, Dixon Seboe, Jocab Debee, and Prescilla Cooper be barred from leaving the country. The writ, granted upon the request of state prosecutors, mandates all security personnel stationed at Liberia’s ports of entry to enforce the restriction.
The action by the court follows formal criminal charges filed by the Liberia National Police against the five lawmakers. According to our Judicial Correspondent, the accused are facing prosecution for arson, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation, charges linked to the alleged attack that resulted in significant damage to the seat of the Legislature.
“The defendants are restricted from exiting the Republic until further notice,” reads the court’s writ. “All security institutions are to remain alert and prevent any attempted departure of the named individuals while these serious charges are pending.”
While details surrounding the Capitol Building incident remain limited, the gravity of the charges and the inclusion of top-ranking members of the House have sparked concern across political and legal circles. Cllr. Fonati Koffa, a key political figure and former House Speaker, now finds himself at the center of one of Liberia’s most sensational legal battles in recent years.
Efforts to obtain comments from the accused lawmakers or their legal representatives have so far been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, public reaction continues to grow as citizens await further revelations from the ongoing investigation.
As the case unfolds, all eyes remain on the judiciary and the broader implications this legal showdown could have on Liberia’s political stability and the rule of law.
