Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice has formally granted temporary medical travel leave to Montserrado County District #15 Representative Abu Bana Kamara, alongside the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa.
The court approved separate applications filed by the lawmakers’ legal teams to lift active travel restrictions, allowing them to travel outside the Republic of Liberia to undergo urgent medical examinations and health check-ups.
Representative Abu Kamara, whose health reportedly deteriorated sharply during his brief detention due to severe spikes in blood pressure, was granted medical clearance to seek specialized treatment abroad. According to official court orders signed by the Clerk of Court, Hector M. Dolo, Cllr. Koffa is permitted to travel to the United States from June 15, 2026, through July 18, 2026. Both opposition lawmakers are expected to immediately return to the country upon the expiration of their leave to face ongoing legal proceedings.
The legal battles for the lawmakers stem from a highly publicized and politically charged incident on December 18, 2024, when a massive fire gutted the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building.
The blaze broke out amid intense political maneuvering by a “Majority Bloc” of lawmakers attempting to unseat Cllr. Koffa from his position as Speaker of the House. Following a multi-month investigation by the Liberia National Police (LNP): State prosecutors accused several top opposition lawmakers from the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of orchestrating the incident.
Investigators claimed the fire was a “premeditated and politically motivated” plot designed to destabilize the legislature, causing damages valued at over US$1.8 million.
In June 2025, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, Rep. Abu Kamara, Rep. Dixon Seboe, and Rep. Jacob Debee were arrested and held at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach). They were later released after securing a joint criminal appearance bond totaling US$440,000.
In November 2025, a formal grand jury indictment sent the case to Criminal Court “A”. The defendants pleaded not guilty to a string of heavy charges, including arson, criminal mischief, theft of property, and terroristic threats. While Criminal Court “A” handles these administrative travel permissions, the substantive trial remains effectively frozen due to an active stay order issued by the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The defense team successfully petitioned the high court for intervention following disputes over lower-court rulings, including the standard of evidence presented by state prosecutors during preliminary magistrate hearings.
The Supreme Court’s chamber justice issued a directive ordering Criminal Court “A” to stay all further proceedings in the arson trial until the full bench can review constitutional challenges to legislative immunity, due process, and the validity of the state’s digital evidence.
