Executive overreach and political manipulation to settle scores
- Michael T
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Liberian government's response to the fire that gutted Liberia’s legislative chambers has evolved into a national scandal — not because of what it uncovered, but because of what it has exposed: the breakdown of law, the abuse of power, and the exploitation of a national tragedy to settle political scores. The very institutions sworn to protect — the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency (NSA) — are now deeply implicated in acts that are more coercion than investigation, vengeance than justice.
From the outset, the investigation into the Capitol fire has faced criticism for its lack of transparency. Suspects alleged that NSA operatives used beatings, threats, and psychological pressure to extract statements. Critics claim these statements were intended not to clarify the origins of the fire, but to implicate opposition lawmakers.
Among those indicted are former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC): Dixon Seboe, Abu Bana Kamara, and Jacob Debee. While officials maintain that the charges are based on evidence, legal experts and rights advocates have described the process as “political staging,” with legal procedure hollowed out and repurposed as spectacle.
The recent case of John Nyanti has further intensified scrutiny of the state’s conduct. After fleeing to Ghana, fearing for his life, Nyanti was forcibly returned to Liberia on 6 June 2025 under circumstances that bypassed formal extradition. Sources allege this was arranged by the NSA, the LNP, and a relative, Koffa Nyanti, who was subsequently appointed as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Special Envoy for Trade and Investment—a move widely seen as a reward for Nyanti’s return.
Nyanti’s legal representatives claim he was promised immunity, financial compensation, and safe relocation to Europe, none of which have materialised. Instead, he has been held in undisclosed locations, denied access to courts, and pressured to implicate lawmakers. Until yesterday, when he was forcibly taken to court after his case was exposed by the media, Nyanti had spent twelve days in a hotel under house arrest without charge, in apparent violation of Article 21 of Liberia’s Constitution. Government officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment on Nyanti’s status. NSA conduct in this case is not considered an isolated incident by analysts.
Between 2024 and 2025, the NSA’s budget soared from $9.4 million to $14.9 million, with the agency overspending its 2024 allocation by $1.5 million. Since 2010, the NSA has received over $151 million, despite Liberia having a score of zero on the Global Terrorism Index—indicating no credible terrorism threat. The NSA’s “special operations intelligence” line item more than doubled, yet the agency remains immune to audits and operates with a persistent lack of transparency. Two things that justify all these monies are political witch-hunts and giving the President a luxurious lifestyle.
Also, the Liberia National Police (LNP) intelligence budget surged by 600% in the 2025 budget. All just to continue the harassment of peaceful citizens. According to the 2025 State of Corruption Report from the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), the LNP is now considered the most corrupt institution in Liberia, plagued by systemic bribery, political interference, and a chronic lack of transparency.
“The NSA’s unchecked authority and lack of public accountability have become systemic,” said one governance expert in Monrovia. “This is a predictable outcome of years of institutional neglect.” The LNP, similarly, faces accusations of abandoning impartiality in favour of political expediency.
While officials insist their actions are necessary to uphold the rule of law, critics argue that the state’s response to the Capitol fire has itself become a crisis, exposing a governing philosophy that treats the law as a tool for consolidating power rather than protecting citizens’ rights. As Liberia marks seven months since the Capitol fire, the question remains: Will its leaders restore faith in the rule of law, or allow the legacy of this case to deepen mistrust further?
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Sources:
Liberia National Budget 2024–2025, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), State of Corruption Report 2025
Global Terrorism Index
Article 21, Constitution of Liberia
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