The family of John Nyanti, one of the individuals accused in connection with the December 18, 2024 arson attack on the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building, has broken its silence, describing his return and detention in Liberia as “unlawful” and part of a government-orchestrated scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Madam Priscilla Nyanti, John’s sister and official spokesperson, accused the Liberian Government of working in tandem with the Liberia National Police (LNP), the National Security Agency (NSA), and a cousin of the accused, Mr. Koffa Nyanti, to facilitate what she calls a “coerced” return of John from Ghana.
“John fled to Ghana because he feared for his life after the December incident,” Madam Nyanti said. “His return on June 6 was not voluntary, it was staged under false promises and government manipulation.”
According to her, the government had approached John under the pretense of needing him as a state witness in the high-profile case involving former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers. In return, she alleges, John was promised non-prosecution, a payment of USD 50,000 (of which only USD 2,000 has reportedly been disbursed), and relocation to a European country of his choosing for himself and his family.
Central to the family’s claims is the role of Mr. Koffa Nyanti, described as the main liaison between John and the state. The family alleges that he was rewarded for his role with a recent appointment as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Special Envoy for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This raises serious questions about motive and integrity,” Madam Nyanti asserted. “There seems to be a quid pro quo at play here.”
She further disclosed that upon his arrival in Liberia, John was taken directly to the Lifestyle Hotel in Thinkers Village, where he was allegedly held under tight watch by both LNP and NSA operatives.
“This is a clear abuse of power,” she said. “It is deeply troubling that state institutions would be used in such a manner.”
John’s situation reportedly worsened on June 16 when he was taken to LNP Headquarters to answer a three-page questionnaire in preparation for his testimony against the lawmakers. But in a dramatic turn of events, Madam Nyanti said John refused to cooperate, maintaining his innocence and insisting he would not lie to implicate others.
“He is not a criminal,” she stated firmly. “He will not destroy other people’s lives for promises that have already been broken.”
When contacted for comment, Liberia National Police spokesperson Madam Cecelia Clarke declined to speak on the matter, saying she was “not in a position to address the issue” and would need further consultation with her superiors.
The Ministry of Justice and the NSA have yet to respond to multiple requests for comment.
If the family’s allegations are proven true, it could cast a long shadow over the government’s handling of the Capitol arson case, raising constitutional and ethical questions about due process, witness protection, and the potential weaponization of state security institutions.
With the trial date approaching, legal observers and civil society organizations are calling for an independent inquiry and full transparency to ensure justice is not only done, but seen to be done.
