Africa-Press – Liberia. The prosecution’s case reportedly hinges on recorded conversations and an alleged comment by Koffa referring to a suspect as “his boy.”
Lawyers representing former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and four sitting lawmakers have filed a motion at the Monrovia City Court requesting the dismissal of all charges related to the December 18, 2024, fire that gutted parts of the Capitol Building.
The defense motion, submitted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, argues that state prosecutors have failed to present any physical, forensic, or direct evidence linking the accused to the arson attack that damaged the joint chambers of the Liberian Legislature and disrupted legislative functions for several weeks.
Lead defense attorney Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi described the case as lacking in substance, saying the state is relying on assumptions and associations rather than admissible evidence.
“There is no video, no eyewitness, no forensic evidence placing our clients at the scene or implicating them in any criminal planning,” Massaquoi argued in court. “The state is attempting to stretch words and personal associations into criminal conduct, which the law does not permit.”
The prosecution’s case reportedly hinges on recorded conversations and an alleged comment by Koffa referring to a suspect as “his boy.” Defense lawyers insisted that this is not sufficient to establish criminal intent or involvement.
“This is a trial by implication, not by evidence,” Massaquoi said. “And in a court of law, suspicion is not a substitute for proof.”
Charged alongside Cllr. Koffa are Representatives Dixon Seboe (Montserrado District 16), Abu Bana Kamara (Montserrado, District 15), Jacob C. Debee II (Grand Gedeh District 3), and Prescilla Cooper (Margibi District #6).
They face multiple counts including Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Facilitation, Attempted Murder, and Criminal Conspiracy.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Cllr. Koffa firmly denied any wrongdoing and described the charges as politically motivated.
“Only those choosing to ignore the facts would link me or any of my colleagues to this crime,” he said. “The government will lose this case. The evidence is speculative at best, and the judiciary will see through the charade.”
Koffa also refuted efforts to connect his past social media posts to the incident, calling the linkage “baseless” and without legal merit.
Representative Debee similarly pushed back against the charges, saying he was unjustly detained for being in a vehicle where a conversation occurred—one he claims to have had no knowledge of.
“They locked me up based on an assumption,” Rep. Debee said. “We will not let this slide. We’re taking legal action against the government for wrongful detention.”
Representative Kamara added, “Even if a conversation took place in my official vehicle, that doesn’t make me guilty. These charges are pure fiction.”
Only Representative Cooper waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The others were arraigned and briefly detained on June 9, before being released on bail.
Legal experts and political analysts have raised concerns over what they describe as the unusually rapid pace of the investigation and the prosecution’s apparent lack of concrete evidence. Many believe the case may be driven more by political considerations than legal merit.
“This is a politically sensitive case,” one legal analyst told FrontPage Africa. “Rushing to indict without credible evidence only undermines public trust in the legal process.”
A court ruling in favor of the defense would effectively halt proceedings before trial. However, if the motion is denied, the case could proceed to full trial, further intensifying political debate and scrutiny.
The fire at the Capitol Building erupted amid tense political disagreements surrounding legislative leadership roles and national budget discussions. The blaze destroyed critical infrastructure used by both the Senate and House of Representatives and drew swift condemnation from civil society and the public.
In the aftermath, the government launched an aggressive investigation. Within weeks, prosecutors had zeroed in on several lawmakers, including senior political figures, fueling allegations that the case was being used as a tool for political retribution.
Despite the charges, all five lawmakers maintain their innocence and say they are prepared to defend their reputations and return to public service.
Judge Ben Barco is expected to make a ruling on the motion to dismiss in the coming weeks. A decision in favor of the defense would not only clear the accused lawmakers but could also raise significant questions about prosecutorial conduct in politically sensitive cases.
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