Liberia’s Supreme Court Intervenes, Halts High-Profile Arson Trial Against ex-Speaker Koffa and lawmakers for emergency review
- Michael T
- Sep 25
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 27
MONROVIA, Sept 25 – Liberia’s Supreme Court has ordered an immediate suspension of all proceedings in the arson case involving former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and other lawmakers from the lower house, pending a high-level judicial review next week.
The directive, issued by Supreme Court Clerk Sam Mamalu by order of Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, compels Resident Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Assizes “A” to stay all action on a petition for writ of certiorari brought by Representatives J. Fonati Kofa, Dixon W. Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, Jacob C. Debbie, et al. The Ministry of Justice, acting as respondent for the Republic of Liberia, faces scrutiny over alleged procedural irregularities.
A closed-door conference between the parties and Justice Wolokolie is scheduled for October 2 at the Temple of Justice, Monrovia. Until then, the trial court is barred from further action.
The case comes as political and judicial tensions escalate.
Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s emergency intervention could reshape the boundaries of government authority and set a precedent affecting lawmakers facing criminal charges.
Liberians will be watching October’s conference for signals on the direction of executive-judicial relations and the durability of legislative legal protections in a changing system.
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