US$1.8 Million Property Bond Temporarily Sets Koffa and Co-defendants Free

Monrovia, Liberia: Representative Jonathan Fonati Koffa of Grand Kru County Electoral District #2 and four other codefendants have been released from the Monrovia Central Prison, commonly known as South Beach, by Monrovia City Court Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco.

Magistrate Barco ordered the release of former House Speaker Koffa, Abu B. Kamara (District #15, Montserrado County), Dixon Seboe (District #16, Montserrado County), and Jacob Debee (District #3, Grand Gedeh County) from South Beach, where they spent the past two nights in pretrial detention.

Their release was prompted by the filing of a US$1.8 million property bond, which was granted by Magistrate Barco on Monday, June 9, 2025.

The bail bond subsequently paved the pathway for the lawmakers to be turned over to their legal team while awaiting trial.

Koffa and his co-defendants are accused of organizing the infamous December 18, 2024, “arson attack” on the Capitol Building, which destroyed key parts of the legislature, including the Joint Chambers, and caused an estimated damage of US$8.6 million.

The courtroom and its surroundings were crowded with supporters and political allies, including former President George M. Weah and Alexander B. Cummings, who made rare joint appearances to express solidarity with the accused.