The Monrovia City Court on Tuesday commenced preliminary hearings into the high-profile arson case involving several sitting lawmakers accused by the Liberia National Police (LNP) of orchestrating an attack on the Capitol Building.
The hearings, aimed at evaluating the strength and admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence, could lead to the case being transferred to Criminal Court ‘A’ for a full-scale trial if the court finds probable cause.
Appearing in court were four legislators: Representative J. Fonati Koffa, Rep. Dixon Siebo, Rep. Jacob Debe, and Rep. Abu Kamara. They were represented by prominent legal counsel including Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi and former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh Wright. The prosecution team was led by Solicitor General Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah, County Attorney Richard Scott, and Cllr. Bobby Livingston, among others.
Taking the stand as the prosecution’s first witness was LNP Criminal Investigator, Inspector Peter Johnson. In his testimony, Johnson detailed what he described as the distinct roles each lawmaker allegedly played in the arson plot.
According to Johnson:
Representative Fonati Koffa was named as the primary financier, allegedly bankrolling the plot. He was also linked to a social media post reading “ALARMO,” which was deleted shortly before the incident. Representative Dixon Siebo was referred to as the architect of the plan, with claims that he facilitated the escape of two individuals tied to the attack. Representative Jacob Debe was charged with criminal facilitation. “As a lawmaker, he had foreknowledge of the plot and chose silence until the attack occurred,” Johnson said. Representative Abu Kamara’s vehicles were allegedly used in executing the plan.
Johnson also referenced audio evidence purportedly containing conversations about the planned arson. He testified that Rep. Koffa acknowledged the voice in the recording was his but denied participating in the conversation. Defense lawyers, however, argued that the audio was AI-generated and inadmissible.
Meanwhile, Montserrado County District #5 Representative Priscilla Cooper, also charged in connection to the case, opted to waive her rights to the preliminary examination. Through her legal counsel, she is requesting a separate trial, signaling a potential legal split from her co-defendants.
The proceedings were not without drama. Court was briefly delayed as the lead witness reportedly requested multiple bathroom breaks during testimony, drawing sharp criticism from the defense. Rep. Koffa and his colleagues expressed frustration with what they described as a “waste of time.”
Outside the courtroom, tension rose further when a journalist questioned Rep. Koffa about an alleged call from the Inspector General of Police requesting an apology. Koffa sharply responded, “I didn’t receive any call. Tell the Police IG never to call me.”
The court adjourned with plans to resume tomorrow, where defense lawyers are expected to cross-examine Inspector Johnson.
This developing case marks an extraordinary moment in Liberia’s democratic history, as sitting lawmakers face grave charges tied to violence against one of the nation’s key institutions.
