Capitol Building Arson Suspects Cry For Bail

Reports emerging from the Monrovia Central Prison say defendants in the Capitol Building arson case are expressing serious frustration in their lawyers for continuously keeping them behind bars while other defendants are home attending court proceedings.

The defendants are arguing that while defendants like former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Representative Abu Kamara, Representative Dickson Seboe and Representative Jacob Debe are all residing in their homes comfortably sleeping and riding luxury cars, they are continuously being held at South Beach.

The six defendants believe because of their status as ordinary citizens, they are being denied essential legal rights.

They believe it is absolutely unfair for their co-defendants to be out of detention and enjoying privileges as if they are not part of the accused.

They want their lawyers to ensure their rights to be released on bail while the case is being adjudicated to be given to them.

 The defendants at the Monrovia Central Prison are also complaining about bad sanitary conditions within the prison as many of them are complaining of being ill while still being held in detention.

The defendants are appealing to their lawyers and legal authorities to ensure they are released on bail as the other defendants like Koffa and others who have been released on bail. 

The Capitol Building arson case is one of the major cases in the nation currently being adjudicated by Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z Willie, at the Temple of Justice. 

Early morning on December 17, 2024, the nation got hit extremely hard with the burning of the Joined Chamber at the House of Representatives causing significant damage.

 The fire decimated the entire Chamber where members of the two houses convened to hold critical national discussions.

It followed a serious power struggle over the speakership of the House of Representatives with majority members of the house signing a resolution for the removal of the then Speaker Koffa who later resigned.

However, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Criminal Court “A” Judge Willie denied the defendant’s lawyers motion filed to suppress evidence. 

Meanwhile, the defendants’ lawyers took an appeal to the Justice in Chamber, Jamestta Howard Wolokollie requesting her to mandate Judge Willie to sustain their motion.

 Justice Wolokollie has mandated Lower Court Judge Willie to halt all proceedings into the case until the motion is looked into.