Last Updated on June 11, 2025 by Peter Toby, Contributor
MONROVIA — Four students of the University of Liberia have been indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County in connection with a violent protest at the headquarters of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), judicial authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The indicted individuals — Stephen Brown, Momo Buttel, Christian Bryant, and Obadiah Jallah — are all members of the Student Unification Party (SUP), a prominent campus-based political movement.
According to court records, the students were indicted following what the LFA’s legal team described as “strong and convincing evidence” presented to the Grand Jury. The confirmation of the indictment was announced Tuesday at Criminal Court ‘A’.
Cllr. Benedict Yassah, lead counsel for the LFA, told reporters the indictment was the result of a robust presentation of facts to the jury.
“Our legal team laid out a compelling case that led to the Grand Jury returning a true bill,” said Yassah. “We are confident the matter will proceed according to the law.”
According to the court, defense attorneys representing the students pleaded with the judge to allow them to turn their clients over voluntarily on Wednesday, June 11, to avoid arrest by court officers.
The students’ indictment clears the way for formal prosecution during either the May or August Term of Criminal Court ‘A’.
The charges stem from a protest staged on March 18, 2025, at the LFA headquarters in central Monrovia. The demonstration, which turned violent, reportedly blocked employee access to and from the building. According to the police, some students were seen wielding dangerous weapons and throwing stones, which led to injuries sustained by several LFA staff members.
The protest was driven by SUP’s demand for the resignation of LFA President Mustapha Raji, whom the students accuse of not being a Liberian citizen — a claim Raji has consistently denied.
The suspects were initially arrested on March 18 and turned over to the Liberia National Police. On March 21, they were formally charged and forwarded to court for prosecution.
The charges against the students include criminal conspiracy, obstruction of government function, recklessly endangering another person, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and rioting.
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