By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Former House Speaker of Liberia, Cllr. Fonati Koffa and few other fellow Lawmakers, who spent their first night in detention at the national Police headquarters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia hours after being linked to the fire at the Legislature’s Joint Chambers building have appeared in court today, Saturday, June 8, 2025.
Police on Friday charged them with the crimes of criminal facilitation, arson, and criminal conspiracy to commit arson, in connection with the December 2024 fire.
Those charged are former speaker of the House of Representatives J. Fonati Kofa, Pricillia Cooper, Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara and Jacob Debee are held in police custody for their alleged involvement.
The five lawmakers were charged with arson, criminal mischief, criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal facilitation and Criminal conspiracy among others.
The lawmakers were forwarded to the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice in li, something that Liberian law requires to be done within 48 hours.
On Friday, a crowd of their supporters have converged opposite the LNP headquarters at the Capitol Byepass end, as the police have cordon off the entrance to their HQ.
Initially, police invited seven lawmakers, but Bong County Representative J. Marvin Cole of and Frank Saah Foko of Montserrado County were released temporarily. Ex-Speaker Cllr. Koffa & 6 Other Lawmakers Spending First Night In Police Custody, After Being Linked To Capitol Building Fire – News Public Trust
In an interview with Representative Foko following his release he said, he stands by his initial statement made at the police headquarters and he’s available whenever police need him.