One of the prime suspects in the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building, John Nyanti, has been arrested and taken to the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) for his suspected involvement in the crime.
Nyanti’s arrest was made based on an Interpol arrest warrant. According to the police charge sheet, he was part of a meeting held at a used car center opposite Conex Gas Station in Jallah Town. It is alleged that he received US$1,000 from Representative Dixon Seboe of District #16 and distributed it to those who allegedly set the building ablaze.
However, on his way to Criminal Court “A” on June 13, 2025, following a preliminary examination hearing, Nyanti revealed that the government led by Boakai had promised him US$200,000 to lie against former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa. “You said you have evidence, but you want to give me $200,000 to lie against Fonati Koffa,” Nyanti said while being taken to Criminal Court “A” in handcuffs. He claimed that since arriving in Liberia on June 6, 2025, the Government of Liberia had been pressuring him to lie against ex-Speaker Koffa.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” immediately sent Nyanti to jail to join his co-defendants. Meanwhile, Representative Dixon Seboe of District #16 is accused of financing Nyanti’s escape from the country concerning the Capitol Building arson attack. The police charge sheet states that the arson attack in December 2024 led to the escape of defendants Nyanti and Amos Kofa, allegedly assisted by Representative Seboe.
Nyanti and others were charged in absentia following a general Interpol arrest warrant. He faces charges under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia for Arson (Chapter 15, Section 15.1), Criminal Mischief (Chapter 15, Section 15.5), Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Chapter 14, Section 14.23), Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder (Chapter 10, Section 10.1), Criminal Facilitation (Chapter 10, Section 10.2), Criminal Solicitation (Chapter 10, Section 10.3), and Criminal Conspiracy (Chapter 10, Section 10.4). The police concluded that the destruction of the Capitol Building’s Joint Chambers represents a direct assault on democracy and governance.
During a recent preliminary hearing, state witness Peter Johnson testified that Dixon Seboe helped Suspect Nyanti escape from Liberia to the Ivory Coast, a statement that Nyanti denied. The defendants are currently held at Monrovia Central Prison, awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police urges all citizens to remain calm, peaceful, and vigilant while supporting national security efforts, adding that no act threatening public safety or the integrity of institutions will be tolerated.
The government of Liberia, through the Justice Ministry, has indicted former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa and several colleagues, including Representatives Abu Kamara, Dixon Seboe, Jacob Debee, Priscilla Cooper, and codefendants Thomas Etheridge, Eric Susay, Kivi Bah, Stephen Broh, John Nyanti, and Jerry Pokah, among others.
On June 16, 2025, the Grand Jury issued a true bill against these lawmakers and others. They were indicted on various offenses, including Arson, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Mischief, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Release of Destructive Forces, Aggravated Assault, and Theft of Property.
This indictment resulted from the special sitting of the Grand Jury of Montserrado County, which included four different groups that found probable cause against the lawmakers and those previously arrested and detained.
Recently, Monrovia City Court Magistrate Ben L. Barco heard the preliminary examination of the evidence against the lawmakers and ruled based on unauthenticated social media evidence, which the prosecution referred to as open-source. After his ruling, the case was transferred to Criminal Court “A” for trial, upon establishing probable cause.
During the preliminary hearing, state prosecutors did not clarify the source of their open-source evidence, which was objected to by the defense team. The social media evidence, lacking information about its origin, faced strong objections regarding its validity and relevance.
