MONROVIA – Monrovia City Court Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco has approved a US$1.8 million property bond for a group of lawmakers charged in connection with the devastating December 2024 fire at the Capitol Building. The bond, signed on Monday, June 9, 2025, paves the way for the release of the accused lawmakers into the custody of their legal team after spending the weekend in detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.
Among those released are Montserrado County District 15 Representative Abu Bana Kamara, District 16 Representative Dixon Wlawlee Seboe of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Grand Gedeh County District 3 Representative Jacob C. Debee of the Liberian National Union (LINU), Montserrado County District 5 Representative Priscilla Cooper of the ruling Unity Party (UP), and former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, also of the opposition CDC. They were remanded on Friday evening following their transfer from the Liberia National Police (LNP) headquarters, where they had been held for over 24 hours.
According to court records, a portion of the bond, valued at US$440,000, was submitted specifically on behalf of former Speaker Koffa, Rep. Seboe, Rep. Kamara, and Rep. Debee as a Criminal Appearance Bond. The bond document names Jonda Janet Koffa and Marjan Mous Koffa as sureties and property holders, committing their assets as security. The bond stipulates that the four lawmakers must appear before the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice as required to face charges including arson, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, criminal intent to commit murder, aggravated assault, illegal possession of firearms, distribution of force, and theft of property. Should the defendants be convicted, they are obligated to surrender themselves into the custody of the court’s sheriff to serve any sentence imposed.
The bond signing occurred under tight security and drew a crowd of supporters and high-profile political figures, including former President George Manneh Weah. Weah’s appearance at the court marked a rare public showing, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the case. Other former officials of the previous CDC-led administration were also present in the courtroom.
The December 18 blaze caused an estimated $8.6 million in damages, destroying the joint chambers, legislative archives, IT infrastructure, and vital voting equipment. According to Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, the fire was a “deliberate and treasonous act” aimed at destabilizing the nation’s democratic institutions.
Investigators from the Liberia National Police Criminal Investigation Division allege that the scheme began in early November 2024 when Thomas Etheridge, then chief of maintenance under Speaker Koffa, gained unauthorized access to restricted areas inside the Capitol. Offices were later vandalized, and surveillance systems were disabled. Authorities claim a failed arson attempt occurred on December 10, followed by a final planning meeting on December 17 in the Jalatan community, where Rep. Seboe is accused of distributing cash to participants.
All five lawmakers remain under a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica, barring them from leaving the country while awaiting prosecution. Security agencies have been instructed to prevent any attempt to flee Liberia.
Defense attorneys for the accused have vowed to challenge both the charges and the prosecution’s handling of the investigation. They argue that the case represents “selective justice,” pointing to the absence of any members of the ruling Unity Party bloc among those questioned or charged.
