In a surprising development, prosecutors in the ongoing Capitol Building arson case revealed in open court that their only evidence against former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers originates from social media content. The statement has raised fresh concerns over the strength of the state’s case and the impartiality of the proceedings.
During a court session at the Monrovia City Court, state lawyers confirmed that no physical evidence or eyewitness testimony has yet been presented. Instead, they rely solely on materials allegedly sourced from social media platforms. However, prosecutors failed to specify which posts, pages, or accounts their claims are based on, raising questions about credibility, authenticity, and motive.
Koffa, along with Representatives Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara, and Jacob Debee, all affiliated with the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), was recently released on a US$440,000 bond after several days in detention at the Monrovia Central Prison. The group faces a range of charges including arson, criminal mischief, menacing, theft of property, and terroristic threats.
Legal observers and civil society actors have already begun to scrutinize the case, with many expressing alarm over what appears to be a politically charged prosecution. Critics argue that basing serious criminal charges on unverified social media content sets a dangerous precedent in Liberia’s justice system.
“This level of prosecutorial weakness not only undermines the legal process but also raises the possibility that these arrests were more about politics than evidence,” said one legal analyst who attended the hearing.
The case has drawn national attention amid growing fears of selective justice and deepening political divides. As the investigation continues, all eyes remain on the court to determine whether the rule of law will hold firm, or bend under pressure.
