By Yassah J. Wright
The Capitol Building arson trial intensified as prosecution witness Rafael Wilson acknowledged that defendant John Nyanti had been brought back to Liberia to assist the state, an arrangement he confirmed and later collapsed.
While testifying before Criminal Court ‘A,’ Wilson said Nyanti was arrested in Ghana with support from the Ghanaian Police, and extradited to Liberia under the expectation that he would cooperate with prosecutors.
He said, authorities placed Nyanti in a hotel along the Roberts International Airport (RIA) road to prevent outside contact, while the arrangement was being negotiated.
Under sharp questioning from defense counsel Arthur T. Johnson, Wilson struggled to explain key investigative steps.
He conceded as he could not confirm whether Nyanti wrote or signed his own police statement, noting that another officer conducted the interrogation, and signed the document.
Wilson could not also say whether he was present when the statement was taken.
Cllr. Johnson then challenged Wilson further on whether Nyanti’s constitutional rights, including counsel, phone access, family contact, and the right to remain silent were fully honored.
Although Wilson claimed the rights were respected, he failed to clarify whether Nyanti was initially taken to the National Security Agency (NSA) before being turned over to the Liberia National Police.
The case took a more contentious turn when defendant John Nyanti accused the Boakai administration of attempting to bribe him.
It can be recalled that while being escorted in handcuffs to Criminal Court ‘A’ on June 13, 2025, Nyanti shouted that senior officials had offered him US$200,000 to falsely implicate former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa into the Capitol Building fire incident on December 18, 2024.
“You say you have evidence, but you want to give me 200k to lie against Fonati Koffa,” Nyanti shouted as officers led him into the court house.
Nyanti claimed he had been in Liberia since June 6, and alleged he had been pressured by state actors to provide fabricated testimony.
The defendants in the Capitol arson case were indicted by the Montserrado County Grand Jury on multiple charges tied to the December 18, 2024, fire that severely damaged the Legislature’s Joint Chambers.
Court proceedings are expected to resume today, Friday, December 12, 2025, as the defense continues to challenge the prosecution’s investigative methods and the credibility of its witnesses.
Prior to Rafael Wilson cross-examination, the prosecution presented the Police charge sheet, and investigation reports in open court to be testified and it was admitted into evidence.
The hearing continues