John N. Nyanti, a central suspect in the high-profile Capitol Building arson case, has been arrested by the Liberia National Police after reportedly fleeing the country through the Lugatuo border. He was taken into custody earlier this week and appeared before the Monrovia City Court on Wednesday afternoon to face formal prosecution.
Nyanti, previously charged in absentia, now finds himself at the heart of a deepening controversy, not just over the arson case itself, but also over serious allegations of political coercion involving high-level government officials.
In a brief interview with judicial reporter Massa Kanneh-Telleh, Nyanti claimed that while he was abroad, he was contacted by over ten individuals, some of whom he believes were acting on behalf of the Liberian government. According to him, he was offered US$200,000 to return to Liberia and falsely testify against former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other unnamed lawmakers.
“You get evidence, then you want give me 200 thousand USD,” Nyanti remarked, implying that the offer was an attempt to secure false testimony rather than pursue justice.
His family backed his account, issuing a public statement yesterday alleging that the Liberian government orchestrated his quiet return to the country on June 6. According to them, he was housed in a local hotel and initially offered US$50,000 along with the promise of permanent relocation to Europe if he agreed to implicate Koffa and the lawmakers in the Capitol Building fire. The family claims Nyanti’s refusal to accept the deal led to his eventual arrest after negotiations reportedly broke down.
The government has not yet responded to either the allegations made by Nyanti or the claims made by his family. However, legal observers warn that these accusations, if verified, could undermine the credibility of the investigation and raise constitutional concerns over due process and political interference.
With the case now before the court, and questions swirling around the motivations behind Nyanti’s arrest and his alleged treatment, public attention has intensified. The Capitol Building fire, already a symbol of national concern, is now also a litmus test for the country’s justice system and democratic integrity.
