This Trial Involves Ex-House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa, 3 Other Sitting Lawmakers And Other Defendants
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia -Barely 24 hours after the ruling by Criminal Court “A” into the motion to suppress evidence in the ongoing Capitol Building arson case, the Supreme Court of Liberia has paused the trial.
The highest court in the land has put a temporary halt to all legal proceedings in the case, effectively freezing the trial which involves former House Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa and multiple co-defendants including three sitting Lawmakers.
After an earlier ruling in their motion by the lower court to suppress evidence, defense lawyers announced that would extend their proceedings to the Supreme Court through a petition of a writ of Certurari.
The action follows a stay order issued by Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, who is presiding in Chambers. The order comes in response to a petition filed by defense lawyers requesting a writ of certiorari—a legal mechanism asking the high court to review and potentially overturn a lower court’s decision.
This development follows a ruling earlier this week by Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, who denied the defense’s motion to exclude evidence submitted by the prosecution.
Justice Wolokolie’s stay halts any further court activity in the case until a formal conference can be held. That meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 2, at 3:00 p.m., according to a court communication signed by Supreme Court Clerk Cllr. Sam Mamalu.
According to the petition, “You are hereby cited to a conference with Her Honor… Meanwhile, you are ordered to stay all further proceedings and/or actions in the matter pending the outcome of the conference.”
The defense argues that the lower court erred in its handling of evidentiary matters and now seeks the Supreme Court’s intervention through certiorari—a legal procedure often reserved for cases of potential judicial missteps or constitutional questions.
The Capitol Building arson case has captivated national attention, with many watching closely as legal proceedings unfold against prominent political figures tied to the alleged incident.
The Supreme Court’s latest decision directs a new layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about judicial oversight, prosecutorial conduct, and the political implications of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, more updates are expected following the October 2, 2025 conference.