MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has reserved ruling to lift its stay order on the Capitol Building Arson Case, which decision if released would allow Criminal Court “A” to resume proceedings.
By Victoria G Wesseh
The Court’s move follows its review of a writ of prohibition filed by Jonathan Fonati Koffa and co-defendants, challenging Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie’s decision to disband the entire jury panel earlier this year.
How the trial stalled
On December 18, 2024, fire gutted sections of the Capitol Building, triggering national shock and a sweeping investigation.
State prosecutors on December 29, 2025 filed a motion to dissolve the jury, alleging jurors “overstepped” by directly questioning the prosecution’s key witness, Reafel Wilson.
Prosecutors argued the panel was “contaminated” and incapable of an impartial verdict.
Judge Willie on January 2 granted the motion, ordered the dissolution of the entire jury panel and suspended the matter until the next term of court.
Defense lawyers immediately announced an appeal to the Supreme Court and requested a bail for all defendants.
Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba on March 2 issued a writ of prohibition, ordered Judge Willie to appear for a chambers conference on March 5 and halted all proceedings pending review.
The Supreme Court’s review
Koffa and eight co-defendants argued that dissolving the jury mid-trial was “irregular” and would disrupt proceedings.
In comments outside the Court on March 5, Koffa compared the move to “restarting a football match midway through the game” and questioned the fairness of disbanding a jury when the prosecution claimed to have “overwhelming evidence”.
Charges and defendants
The December 2024 blaze led to indictments for arson, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder and related felonies.
Charged alongside Koffa are Representatives Dixon W. Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, Jacob C. B. Debbie, Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, and Stephen Broh.
Jury controversy: What sparked it
The prosecution’s motion centered on a December 22 exchange where a juror asked for a replay of November 10, 2024 video footage and questioned whether a person in the video was defendant Thomas Etheridge.
Prosecutors said the questioning suggested jurors were consulting among themselves.
Defense counsel countered that the prosecution was using “delay tactics” and that disbanding the entire panel was “unprecedented, unconstitutional and dangerous for the integrity of jury trials in Liberia”.
Earlier, Judge Willie had already removed juror Antoinette Mulbah over her role as a Congress for Democratic Change(CDC) Coordinator, citing concerns about bias.
With the Supreme Court’s stay may be lifted, prosecutors must now decide whether to reseat a jury and proceed with evidence they previously described as “overwhelming”.
Defense lawyers maintained their clients will prevail once evidence is presented.
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