Breaking: Judge Signs $1.8m Bond for Ex-Speaker Koffa and Lawmakers in Capitol Fire Case
- Michael T
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Monrovia, 9 June 2025 – Judge Ben Barco of the Monrovia City Court has signed a property bond valued at $1.8 million, clearing the way for the conditional release of former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and four other lawmakers accused in connection with the December 2024 fire that devastated Liberia’s Capitol Building.
The lawmakers—Koffa, Abu Bana Kamara, Dixon Wlawlee Seboe, Jacob C. Debee, and Priscilla A. Cooper—had been remanded to prison and placed under a travel ban as they await trial on charges including arson, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation. The charges stem from a sweeping police investigation into the blaze, which destroyed the legislative chambers and caused an estimated $8 million in damages123456.
The fire, which broke out on 18 December, erupted amid fierce political tensions and a bitter leadership struggle within the House of Representatives.
On Friday, the lawmakers were summoned to the police headquarters, but their appearance was controversially delayed for over six hours. According to sources close to the proceedings, elements within the executive branch sought to prolong their detention to make a political point by sending them to jail, fuelling further controversy over the case’s handling.
Police allege that the lawmakers played significant roles in supporting the arson attack, both financially and logistically. The detentions and subsequent travel ban have sparked criticism from legal experts and civil society groups, who argue that the police overstepped their authority by continuing to detain the lawmakers after charges were filed—a move seen as contravening Liberian law and constitutional guarantees of due process25.
The property bond, signed by Judge Barco, allows the lawmakers to be released into the custody of their lawyer while legal proceedings continue. The move comes amid mounting pressure from opposition figures and public protests demanding their release. Notably, former President George Weah was present at the court today, emphasizing the high political stakes and public interest surrounding the case. The Capitol fire case remains one of the most high-profile legal battles in Liberia’s recent history, raising questions over the rule of law, political accountability, and the independence of the judiciary25.
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