The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has strongly warned the Unity Party led government against any attempt to arrest lawmakers from the CDC alleged to be linked to the arson attack on the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024.
It can be recalled that one of the suspects of in the case of the arson attack Eric Susay admitted to crime investigators that he and others planned and carried out the felonious act on the capitol at the home of embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Foffa, and other lawmakers including Representative Dixon Seboe, Marvin Cole, Frank S. Foko and Abu Kamara allegedly sponsored the arson attack.
After hearing a petition for prohibition filed by state prosecutors against a Writ of Habeas Corpus that saw one of the major suspects Thomas Etheridge released to his guarantors to seek medical treatment, the Justice In-Chambers of the Supreme Court Yamie Qui-qui Gbeisay ordered Defendant Etheridge to be turned over to the Monrovia City Court in an hour time, at which time Magistrate Ben L. Barco sent him to jail along with suspect Eric Susay who was already in police custody awaiting court trial for the same crime.
The defendants were charged with multiple crimes ranging from Arson, Release of Destructive Forces, Reckless Burning or Exploding, Criminal Mischief, Recklessly Endangering another Person, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation and Criminal Solicitation.
But Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at the party headquarters in Congo Town, CDC Chairman Janga A. Kowo said after the “illegal” removal of embattled Speaker Koffa, the government is now targeting members from CDC.
CDC Chairman Kowo said the party will resist any attempt to arrest their lawmakers and the government should be prepared to arrest the entire party.
“The party is aware of the bogus charges and investigation conducted by Liberia National Police (LNP) and National Security Agency (NSA) with no transparency, and we challenge the government to tell the Liberian people who was minding the capitol building on December 18, 20204 before the arson attack,” CDC Chairman said.
According to him, CDC will fully resist the government’s charges against decent people’s characters that it wants to damage just to justify the illegal removal of embattled Speaker Koffa.
The CDC spokesperson further said the peace and stability of the country is in the hands of President Joseph N. Boakai and the president can decide if he wants it to progress or not.
He said CDC will be sending messages to international partners including the American Embassy, ECOWAS and others that the party has been silent and civil but not as a weakness.
Chairman Kowo said the party will be working with the CDC Legislative Caucus Chairman Senator Nathaniel F. McGill for them to boycott President Boakai’s state of the nation address on Monday, January 27, 2025.
