The image of riot police flanking the perimeter of the Monrovia Central Prison—with shields drawn and batons in hand—is a visual Liberia hoped it had consigned to the past. It signals not just heightened political tension, but a judiciary and security apparatus caught in the vortex of public scrutiny and political suspicion.
Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, now sits behind bars, charged with serious crimes including arson and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in the December 18 Capitol fire. That fire caused an $8.6 million loss, according to the police, and disabled Liberia’s primary seat of lawmaking. But whether Koffa is a criminal mastermind or a political scapegoat remains a question dividing the nation.
Central to this debate is not simply a criminal case. It is the direction of Liberia’s democratic integrity.
Justice Must Be Blind—But Is It?
There is no argument that those who destroy public property, especially the nation’s legislative hall, must face the law. The Liberia National Police claim they are acting on evidence that directly implicates Koffa, including alleged meetings to plan the sabotage and testimony from aides who link him to the conspiracy.
Still, justice must be administered equitably. The decision to remand opposition lawmakers while releasing Rep. Priscilla Cooper—who belongs to the ruling Unity Party—raises justified concerns. The public deserves an answer: What separates her alleged involvement from those now in prison jumpsuits?
President Joseph Boakai, a man elected on promises of integrity and national unity, has so far maintained silence on the matter. His silence, however, is not neutral. It echoes louder each day that the law appears selective.
The Koffa case emerges from the embers of a bitter legislative dispute. Just a month ago, he resigned as Speaker after the Supreme Court ruled against the legitimacy of the so-called “majority bloc” led by Unity Party’s Richard Koon. It is no coincidence that Koffa’s arrest comes on the heels of that political loss.
If the Boakai administration believes that demonstrating strength through arrests will cement order, it is dangerously mistaken. Such moves only embolden the opposition and fracture national consensus. The optics of armed police, jailed lawmakers, and a defiant opposition threaten to undo progress made since Liberia’s civil conflict era.
The CDC, ANC, and independent lawmakers have all labeled Koffa’s detention as persecution. ANC’s Alexander Cummings called it “shameful.” Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is treading carefully, calling for due process. Meanwhile, Janga Kowo’s brief arrest for protesting further exposed the government’s hypersensitivity to dissent.
Reclaiming the Judiciary’s Credibility
The burden now rests with Liberia’s judiciary to prove its independence. Magistrate Ben Barco, who remanded the lawmakers, will not only decide on their guilt or innocence—he will help determine whether the courts are tools of justice or politics.
Liberians are watching. So is the international community.
The judiciary must insist on transparency and procedural fairness. All accused lawmakers—regardless of party—must be treated equally. If the evidence against Koffa is robust, let it withstand scrutiny. If not, the courts must act boldly to restore the dignity of due process.
Liberia at a Crossroads
Rep. Musa Bility, from his “solitude,” rightly called this moment a “test of national memory.” Liberia cannot afford to return to the dark era of politicized arrests, judicial compromise, and public mistrust. President Boakai must remember: real power is not in silencing rivals but in upholding institutions.
This is not merely a legal battle. It is a reflection of Liberia’s maturity as a democracy.
We urge the government to proceed with caution, fairness, and transparency. Let the law reign—not partisanship. Let justice lead—not vengeance.
And let this be the moment when Liberia proves, both to itself and the world, that it has learned from its past.
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