Published: June 9, 2025
Temple of Justice, Monrovia – Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah on Monday visited the Monrovia City Court to show solidarity with his detained partisans, including former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers facing multiple criminal charges.
Weah was accompanied by a high-profile delegation of former officials from his administration, including former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., former Chief of Protocol Finda Nora Bundoo, Senator Nathaniel McGill of Margibi County, Senator Augustine Chea of Sinoe County, and Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, among others.
The court appearance follows the June 6 indictment of the lawmakers by the Liberia National Police. Koffa and his colleagues were charged in connection with the December 2024 arson attack on the Capitol Building, which caused an estimated $8.6 million in damages and paralyzed legislative functions.
According to the police charge sheet, the lawmakers face a string of serious offenses, including arson, attempted murder, criminal facilitation, criminal mischief, criminal solicitation, criminal conspiracy, and recklessly endangering another person.
The charges, police said, violate several provisions of the Liberian Penal Code, including Chapter 15, Sections 15.1 and 15.5; Chapter 14, Section 14.23; and Chapter 10, Sections 10.1 through 10.4.
Former Speaker Koffa and the three other lawmakers remain in detention and are expected to appear in court for formal proceedings in the coming days.
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