After spending two nights at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach), former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three others accused in the high-profile Capitol Building arson case have been released on a joint criminal appearance bond valued at $440,000.
The bond was filed and approved on the morning of June 9, 2025, by Monrovia City Court Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco. The bond lists Koffa, Representatives Abu Bana Kamara (District 15, Montserrado), Dixon Seboe (District 16, Montserrado), and Jacob C. Debee (District 3, Grand Gedeh) as co-defendants. The defendants are required to appear before the court today, June 10, 2025, as requested by Koffa and the others.
The property valuation bond guarantee was provided by sureties Jonda Janet Koffa and Marjan Mona Koffa, both residents of Monrovia. Koffa, Abu B. Kamara, Dixon W. Seboe, and Jacob C. Debee’s release comes amid increasing public scrutiny of the case, which stems from a devastating fire at the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024. The blaze destroyed significant portions of the legislative infrastructure and caused an estimated $8.6 million in damages. Investigators allege that the incident was a result of a “premeditated and politically motivated” conspiracy to destabilize the Legislature.
Under the terms of the bond, which was signed at 11:05 a.m., the four defendants must appear at the Monrovia City Court at 9:00 a.m. on June 10 for the preliminary hearing and remain available throughout the duration of the court proceedings. The defendants are also under a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica, which prevents them from leaving Liberia without court permission.
The release of the lawmakers took place under heavy security at the Temple of Justice, attracting a large crowd of supporters and journalists. In a dramatic show of support, former President George Manneh Weah appeared at the grounds of the Temple of Justice to stand with his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) allies, energizing supporters and adding a new political dimension to the legal drama. According to insiders, Weah’s initial intention was to serve as one of the sureties, but he opted not to do so based on an advice from the judge.
Rep. Priscilla Cooper, representing District #5 of Montserrado County, was notably absent from the bond file. She had been detained alongside the other lawmakers at police headquarters but was later released to her lawyers on Friday, June 6, 2025. Court officials stated that her legal team has not finalized her bond arrangements, and it remains uncertain whether she will file a bond of her own.
Inspector General Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman stated that the arson was carried out by individuals who had access to the Capitol Building. Capitol Building Chief of Maintenance Thomas Etheridge allegedly bypassed security protocols in November 2024, granting unauthorized entry to sensitive areas of the building.
Surveillance footage, mobile phone data, and witness statements reportedly link the accused to both a failed arson attempt on December 10 and a final planning session on December 17 in the Jallah Town Community, where Representative Seboe allegedly distributed cash. On the morning of the fire, janitor James Muller reportedly allowed the perpetrators into the Capitol, where they allegedly doused areas of the third and fourth floors in gasoline before igniting the blaze.
This case has sparked renewed political friction in Monrovia, with opposition voices accusing the Unity Party-led government of weaponizing the judiciary. Koffa, who lost the Speakership earlier this year to a Unity Party-backed bloc, described the charges as “baseless and politically driven.” “This is not justice; it’s persecution,” said one CDC supporter outside the court. Legal teams representing the lawmakers are preparing to challenge both the factual basis and the constitutional legality of the investigation, citing what they term “selective justice and political interference.” However, prosecutors continue to analyze digital evidence and anticipate further charges as the investigation progresses. As the case unfolds, it promises to test Liberia’s legal system and deepen the country’s political divide, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the rule of law.
