MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Thomas Etheridge, a suspect in the December 2024 Capitol Building fire incident, collapsed in the Temple of Justice courtyard on Monday, January 13, 2025. His sudden medical emergency occurred as he awaited a hearing for a habeas corpus petition filed by his legal team. Etheridge was swiftly transported to AMI Hospital in Sinkor for treatment, but the Liberia National Police (LNP), initially stationed at the hospital, later departed without explanation.
Etheridge’s legal representative, Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi, claims his client has been held unlawfully since his arrest near the Capitol on December 18, 2024. The petition alleges that both the LNP and the National Security Agency (NSA) violated Etheridge’s constitutional rights by detaining him without formal charges for more than the mandated 48-hour period. His legal counsel argues that such actions contravene Liberia’s Constitution, particularly the provisions guaranteeing personal liberty and protection against torture.
The legal team also accuses state security agents of inhumane treatment. According to a statement submitted in court, Etheridge was subjected to severe physical abuse during his detention. Allegedly, NSA agents tortured him with boiling water, physically assaulted him, and used a live snake to intimidate him. Etheridge has claimed he was coerced to sign a statement implicating himself in the Capitol fire but refused, resulting in further mistreatment.
The fire, which engulfed the Capitol Building in the early hours of December 18, caused extensive damage to the Joint Chambers and surrounding offices. Authorities have since classified the blaze as arson. Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman stated that investigators had gathered sufficient evidence and were prepared to arrest individuals deemed responsible.
Etheridge’s case has drawn significant attention, especially from lawmakers and civil society groups, who see it as emblematic of deeper governance issues. Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County, chair of the Rule of Law Caucus, has strongly criticized the government’s handling of the investigation. In a statement, he decried the actions of the LNP and NSA, accusing them of overreach and abuses of power.
“These actions threaten to undermine Liberia’s democratic values,” Bility remarked, warning that such practices could erode public trust in state institutions. He also condemned the use of torture, emphasizing that Liberia must not revert to authoritarian tactics in the name of law enforcement.
Bility’s criticism extends to what he describes as a troubling trend of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of political staffers. Etheridge and Gibson Toe, another staffer of House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, have been detained in connection with the fire. Bility argues that their treatment is part of a broader attempt to suppress dissent within the Legislature.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates and opposition figures have called for an independent inquiry into the allegations against the NSA and LNP. They emphasize that any investigation into the Capitol Building fire must be transparent and impartial to ensure justice for all parties involved.
One critic of the Boakai administration, Amos Blamah, commented on his Facebook page, stating that while Etheridge’s health condition remains uncertain, his collapse has intensified public scrutiny of the case. He added that the incident has reignited debates about accountability and respect for constitutional rights within the justice system. Many view the case as a critical test of the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
