As Former Speaker Koffa, Others Plead Not Guilty In Criminal Court “A’
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia—Former House Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, other sitting Lawmakers and others this week pleaded not guilty regarding multiple criminal charges for allegedly setting the Capitol Building ablaze late last year in the Criminal Court “A”.
On Tuesday November 18,2025, the Court selected seven jurors in the ongoing arson trial of former Speaker Koffa, Representatives Dixon Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, Jacob Debee, and seven others accused in connection with the December 18, 2024 fire that damaged the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building, the seat of the Liberian Legislature.
According to the new jury law, the court must select twelve regular jurors and three alternate jurors to constitute the full 15-member panel. Immediately after the selection of the seven jurors, they were sequestered on the grounds of the Temple of Justice, with strict orders prohibiting all outside contact. Court officers escorted them briefly to retrieve personal items for themselves before returning them to isolation for the duration of the trial.
The selected jurors underwent barraged of questions examination by both prosecution and defense teams. Candidates were instructed to read and write from newspapers and books to demonstrate their literacy and comprehension. Several of the prospective jurors were rejected due to personal or professional links to defendants.
However, one of the jurors was dismissed anfter informing the court that he attends the same church as defendant Dixon W. Seboe, who serves as an elder. The court ruled the relationship a direct conflict, barring him from service.
On Monday, November 17, 2025, all defendants in a unanimous voice pleaded not guilty to charges including Arson, Criminal Mischief, Endangering, and Attempted Murder.
September of 2025, the defendants filed a Writ of Certiorari before the Supreme Court, seeking review of Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie’s decision denying their motion to suppress evidence. The judge’s September ruling allowed all disputed evidence to remain in the case.
Jury selection continues this week as the court works to empanel the full jury and move the high-profile trial forward.