Liberia’s former Speaker of Parliament, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, has been charged with arson over a fire that destroyed the nation’s House of Representatives last December.
The blaze broke out on December 18, 2024, a day after plans to remove Koffa from his role as speaker sparked protests in the capital, Monrovia.
Koffa had been locked in a standoff with his political opponents, with dozens of lawmakers voting for his impeachment in October over accusations of poor governance, corruption, and conflicts of interest.
Police Chief Gregory Colman said there were “credible links” to suggest Koffa was “strategically involved” in the incident, which was confirmed to be deliberately set by a team of independent US investigators. Koffa has previously denied any connection to the fire.
The former speaker and three sitting members of the House of Representatives were remanded to Monrovia Central Prison on Saturday after being summoned to the Liberian National Police headquarters as “persons of interest” in the case. Five other lawmakers have also been detained in connection with the case.
Koffa faces a string of offenses, including arson, criminal mischief, endangering other people, and attempted murder. According to Police Chief Colman, Koffa allegedly used his office and staff “to co-ordinate sabotage efforts from as early as November 2023”.
Representative Frank Saah Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, was also brought in for questioning by police after allegedly uploading a video to Facebook saying, “If they want us to burn the chambers, we will burn it”.
The power struggle in Liberia’s House of Representatives has been ongoing, with Koffa resigning as speaker last month after months of political deadlock.
