Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, has strongly refuted claims that the police or the Government of Liberia attempted to bribe defendant John Nyanti with over US$200,000 in connection to the high-profile Capitol Building arson case.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), IG Coleman described the allegation as baseless and misleading. He clarified that the Liberia National Police had no direct meeting with Nyanti regarding any bribe, contrary to the defendant’s assertions.
“At no time did the Liberia National Police meet Nyanti to bribe him, as being speculated,” Coleman asserted. “Through the Ghanaian Government and a family member, we coordinated his return because they said he should come serve as a witness. But we all know that a cooperative witness can be dangerous, so we brought him back and charged him accordingly.”
John Nyanti, who was extradited from Ghana with the assistance of local authorities and a relative, was arraigned before the Monrovia City Court on Wednesday. During his appearance, he alleged that government officials had offered him a bribe to give false testimony in the ongoing investigation.
Coleman rejected this narrative outright, stating that no such offer was ever made by the police or any state actor. “They made requests that we couldn’t honor, and at no time did we pressure him to lie on any of the defendants,” he emphasized.
Nyanti is among several individuals facing charges in relation to the December 2024 arson attack on the Liberian Capitol Building, a brazen act that caused significant structural damage and drew national outrage.
The Inspector General reiterated that the police acted within the confines of the law in Nyanti’s case, and that the decision to charge him was based on credible intelligence, not retaliation.
As the Capitol arson trial unfolds, the bribery allegation has added a fresh layer of controversy to an already sensitive political case. However, authorities say they remain committed to ensuring due process and transparency in the handling of all suspects involved.
