Monrovia – The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, has denied allegations that state prosecutors attempted to bribe John Nyanti, one of the key suspects in the Capitol Building arson case, to testify against former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and other co-defendants.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Nyanti, who was declared wanted by the police and believed to have fled the country following the December 2024 incident, resurfaced under controversial circumstances. His family recently held a surprise press conference, accusing the police of holding him incommunicado and attempting to coerce him into serving as a state witness against Koffa and others.
A day after the press conference, Nyanti appeared at the Monrovia City Court, where he reaffirmed his family’s claims. He alleged that the Government of Liberia offered him $US200,000 to testify against the former Speaker and several lawmakers implicated in the case.
However, addressing the allegations at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, Police IG Coleman refuted the claims, stating that at no point did the police attempt to bribe Nyanti.
“There are claims and counterclaims suggesting that the police tried to bribe suspect Nyanti to falsely implicate others,” Coleman said. “But let me make it clear—Mr. Nyanti has been identified as a person of interest in this investigation. He was brought into the country on June 6 through legal means.”
According to Coleman, it was Nyanti’s family who first approached the police with a request for a possible deal that would allow Nyanti to serve as a state witness.
“We accepted the proposal and engaged him, but after preliminary assessments, we found him to be unreliable and decided not to proceed,” Coleman explained. “At no time did we initiate negotiations or offer any bribe.”
The Police Chief noted that due to the ongoing nature of the case, the LNP is limited in what it can disclose publicly, but assured the public that the police acted lawfully and transparently.
“I can tell you that they made a request that we could not honor. This case goes beyond just a criminal indictment—it is about confronting a culture of impunity,” Coleman added. “We are aware of disinformation being spread from multiple sources.”
Coleman further disclosed that Nyanti provided a sworn statement, both in writing and on video, in the presence of his lawyer. He said the evidence would be presented at the appropriate time in court.
He said the Liberia National Police remains resolute. This matter is now before the court, and we will allow the judicial process to take its course,” he said.