Former Liberian House Speaker, 4 Lawmakers Detained, Charged Over Arson Attack

Source: Africa Publicity

A former Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, and four members of the House of Representatives were detained in police custody on Friday night, June 6, 2025, for their alleged roles in a recent arson attack on the Liberian Capitol Building in Monrovia.

The suspects were detained after being formally charged by the Liberia National Police (LNP).

Addressing a press conference Friday evening at the Liberia National Police headquarters in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, Inspector General of Police, Gregory Coleman disclosed that seven lawmakers had been invited for questioning in connection with the arson attack.

Out of the seven, he said two lawmakers were released while the former Speaker and four other lawmakers remained in custody.

According to the Inspector General, the two representatives released were Montserrado County District 9 Representative, Frank Saah Foko, and Bong County District 3 Representative, Marvin Cole.

Those charged and detained, according to Coleman, are: Grand Kru County District 2 Representative Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Montserrado County District 16 Representative, Dixon Seboe, Montserrado County District 15 Representative, Abu Kamara, Representative Jacob Debee, and Representative Priscilla Cooper.

The Inspector General of Police says “These individuals will spend the night at the Liberia National Police Headquarters.”

Mr. Coleman claimed evidence – including witness testimonies and call logs – indicates that the attack was not random but a coordinated and deliberate act.

He says the arson attack was not only against the Capitol Building but against Liberia’s democracy.

According to the police chief, “further investigations have linked high-profile individuals, including Koffa, Seboe, Kamara, and Debee. They played significant roles.”

Mr. Coleman alleged that Koffa used his official aide, simply identified as Thomas, to carry out coordination efforts, often citing instructions “from the chief”.

Koffa is facing several charges including conspiracy, criminal facilitation, arson, and criminal mischief.

“No one is above the law,” says Coleman, adding that “accountability must take precedence in Liberia’s legal system. We will not be deterred by threats and will resist any form of domestic coercion.”

It would be recalled that fire gutted the Rotunda of the Capitol Building early Wednesday morning, December 18, 2024. The Rotunda is the Joint Chamber of the Liberian Legislature. Until what has now been confirmed as an arson attack, it had hosted meetings of the members of Representative Richard N. Koon’s so-called Majority Bloc.