-In Capitol Building Arson Case
By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson I,
Monrovia — Defense lawyers representing former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and co-defendants in the Capitol Building arson case have taken a strong stand against the prosecution, filing a motion to suppress evidence which they argue was illegally obtained by the National Security Agency (NSA). The defense insists that the materials presented by the state are unreliable and should not be admitted into court.
In their motion before Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice, the defense stressed that the evidence lacks a proper chain of custody and was unlawfully gathered while the defendants were in custody. Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has reserved ruling on the matter and postponed the case to September 4, 2025, when he is expected to decide on the motion. During a heated exchange, the defense lawyer argued that the evidence lacks proper documentation, including the date, place, and time. They further emphasized that the NSA, which led the investigation, unlawfully obtained the evidence while the defendants were detained.
In a shocking allegation, the defense stated that their clients were tortured and sexually assaulted while in handcuffs to extract confessions or information. These claims sparked dramatic scenes in the courtroom when one of the defendants stood up, removed his prison-issued orange jumpsuit, and turned his back to the court, alleging he had been tortured. Another defendant showed visible injuries on his hands, similarly claiming abuse. The prosecution strongly opposed the motion, urging the court to deny the defense’s application and allow the trial to proceed.
In a related development, Judge Willie ordered the Ministry of Justice to immediately transfer several co-defendants from Kakata Central Prison back to Monrovia Central Prison. The order followed a defense application objecting to the relocation. Judge Willie questioned the rationale behind the move and stressed that such an action could impede the defendants’ constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial, particularly their ability to interact with their legal counsel.
Defense lawyers allege that the prosecution team is using illegal means to extract evidence from Amos Koffa and the other co-defendants who were transported to Kakata Central Prison. The court’s upcoming ruling on the motion to suppress could have significant implications for the case, which has drawn national attention due to its severity and allegations of human rights abuses.
Koffa’s lawyers further argue that the evidence in question should therefore not be admitted. They claim that the prosecution has failed to properly document and trace how key evidentiary items—allegedly linking the defendants to the fire incident at the Capitol—were handled from the crime scene to the courtroom. “The state’s evidence was introduced without credible documentation showing who collected, stored, or transported these items. This raises serious concerns about potential tampering, contamination, or fabrication,” the defense team stated in their filing.
Among the challenged materials are surveillance footage, the search and seizure of the defendants’ phones, and a gasoline container reportedly recovered near the scene. The defense also raised concerns about the involvement of the National Security Agency (NSA), alleging that some defendants were coerced into providing evidence, which they characterized as inadmissible.
