MONROVIA — A directive from the Central Financial institution of Liberia (CBL) obtained by FrontPageAfrica, has positioned a freeze on the issuance of court docket bonds by business banks and insurance coverage firms with out prior written clearance from its Insurance coverage Division — successfully stopping a number of lawmakers at the moment dealing with prison costs, together with former Home Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, from securing bail.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The measure, issued on Could 16, 2025, below Directive No. CBL/ID/DIR/00112025, mandates that any establishment wishing to concern a court docket bond should first obtain formal approval from the CBL’s Insurance coverage Division.
The method requires insurers to submit notarized and authorized audited monetary statements, together with a full report of excellent bonds issued previous to any new request.
The directive took instant impact and has since disrupted the authorized course of for a number of lawmakers who have been just lately remanded into custody. These embody Koffa (Grand Kru County), Abu Bana Kamara (Montserrado County District #15), Dixon Wlawlee Seboe (Montserrado County District #16), and Jacob C. Debee (Grand Gedeh County District #3). The 4 have been incarcerated on the Monrovia Central Jail Saturday following their second court docket look in reference to a December 18, 2024 arson assault on the Capitol Constructing.
The lawmakers face costs of arson, prison conspiracy, prison facilitation, and tried homicide. Authorities declare the blaze, which brought on an estimated $8 million in damages, was politically motivated and deliberate by senior officers, together with Koffa, who allegedly used an aide to hold out the assault.
Underneath Liberia’s Structure, all accused individuals are entitled to bail, besides in capital offenses or the place flight danger is established. Nonetheless, the brand new CBL directive has created a de facto denial of bail by halting the bond issuance course of completely, regardless of no court docket ruling denying bail to the lawmakers.
“No bonds have been filed as a result of no insurance coverage firm is at the moment capable of concern one,” mentioned Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi, authorized counsel for the detained legislators. “The restrictions from the Central Financial institution have paralyzed the bail course of.”
Massaquoi confirmed that his purchasers stay in custody not due to any judicial denial, however as a result of no insurer is prepared — or ready — to navigate the brand new compliance burden in time.
Though the CBL’s directive doesn’t reference Koffa or any particular people, authorized and political observers say its sensible impression factors on to the continuing prison case, which is more and more being considered by a political lens.
“That is not merely a prison matter—it’s political,” mentioned political analyst Sampson Wesseh. “The timing of the CBL directive, and its impact on sitting lawmakers, notably these in opposition or vital of the present administration, is very suspect.”
Wesseh added that the directive quantities to an oblique type of detention by monetary decree. “When a regulatory company with no judicial authority successfully blocks entry to bail, we’re getting into harmful territory the place the separation of powers begins to break down.”
Different analysts echoed comparable sentiments, suggesting the directive permits the chief department to exert affect over the judiciary by way of monetary establishments.
“If the Central Financial institution — meant to function independently — is now concerned in a case with political implications, it raises critical constitutional questions,” mentioned one Monrovia-based authorized scholar who requested anonymity.
The state of affairs intensified over the weekend when the Monrovia Metropolis Courtroom issued a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica barring all 5 lawmakers implicated within the case — together with Rep. Priscilla Cooper (Montserrado County District #5), who has not been detained—from leaving the nation.
The writ, granted by Stipendiary Justice of the Peace Ben Barco, directs nationwide safety businesses to arrest any of the accused lawmakers trying to exit Liberia.
Whereas such writs are commonplace in main prison instances, critics argue that, when mixed with the bond restrictions, it underscores a coordinated try and detain lawmakers indefinitely with out trial.
“This appears like a calculated authorized and monetary technique to silence sure lawmakers,” mentioned a human rights lawyer. “It could be constitutional on paper, however it’s questionable in spirit.”
Repeated efforts by FrontPageAfrica to acquire a response from the Central Financial institution of Liberia have gone unanswered. A proper request for remark was submitted to CBL Govt Governor Henry F. Saamoi, in search of clarification on whether or not the directive was launched in response to monetary danger issues or political strain. As of press time, there was no official reply.
Because the bond deadlock continues, the destiny of the detained lawmakers stays unclear. Authorized groups are reportedly exploring various avenues to problem the directive or search court docket intervention.
