Justice of the Peace Ben Barco of the Monrovia Metropolis Court docket has reserved ruling till Thursday within the bond justification listening to involving former Home Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and three different lawmakers, all charged with arson in connection to the December 2024 hearth on the Capitol Constructing.
By Victoria G. Wesseh
The property valuation bond, filed to safe their launch from jail, was submitted by Joanna Janet Koffa, one of many daughters of the previous Speaker. The bond, valued at over US$80,000, is reportedly co-owned by her and her elder sister, Marjan Mona Koffa.
Throughout Tuesday’s listening to, Justice of the Peace Barco reserved his choice after listening to authorized arguments from each the prosecution and protection relating to the legitimacy and sufficiency of the properties introduced as collateral.
“The courtroom reserves ruling for Thursday,” Justice of the Peace Barco introduced.
In her testimony, Janet Koffa acknowledged that the properties are positioned in Ben’s City, Marshall, and the Dey Gola Chiefdom in Todee District. She recognized herself because the Normal Supervisor of United Command Inc.
“There are tangible constructions on the properties,” she stated. “One of many properties in Todee District—a vacant farmland—is valued at US$83,000. We even have palm and rubber manufacturing on about 100 acres, together with farmhouses.”
Nonetheless, the prosecution, led by Cllr. Bobby Livingston, challenged the legitimacy of the bond, describing it as “bogus and nugatory.” He urged the courtroom to set it apart and order the re-arrest of the defendants.
“The listening to clearly reveals that the defendants have failed flatly and miserably to justify the ill-fated and frivolous felony look bond filed earlier than the courtroom,” Livingston argued.
In response, protection lawyer Cllr. Wilkins Wright urged the courtroom to uphold the bond and grant the movement to justify it.
“We ask the courtroom to disclaim and overrule the prosecution’s exceptions. Most significantly, along with the bond already accredited, Your Honor is urged to uphold the defendants’ constitutional rights and grant them any and all additional aid as could also be simply, authorized, and equitable,” Cllr. Wright argued.
The proceedings have been triggered by a June 23 order from the Metropolis Court docket, compelling the defendants together with former Home Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Representatives Dixon W. Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, and Jacob C. Debee to validate their bail bond or face instant arrest.
“The defendants are hereby ordered to supply their sureties to justify their bond… In any other case, the bond will probably be put aside and the defendants will probably be rearrested per our statute,” Justice of the Peace L. Ben Barco acknowledged in open courtroom.
In response, former Speaker Koffa introduced his daughter, Ms. Jonda Janet Koffa, Normal Supervisor of United Command Inc., and Marjan Mona Koffa, as sureties for a US$1.8 million property bond.
The defendants have been initially launched from the Monrovia Central Jail on June 9 after submitting a mixed bail package deal consisting of a US$440,000 felony look bond—backed by sureties Jonda Janet Koffa and Marjan Mona Koffa—and a US$1.8 million property bond. The Metropolis Court docket accepted the bond and launched the lawmakers with out conducting a proper listening to on its adequacy, prompting the prosecution to problem the bond’s legitimacy.
Prosecutors filed exceptions, questioning the sufficiency of the bail and the credibility of the sureties. The matter was subsequently transferred to Prison Court docket “A,” which has now remanded it again to Justice of the Peace Barco for willpower.
At Tuesday’s listening to, Justice of the Peace Barco granted the protection’s movement to proceed with the qualification of the unique sureties. The primary witness, Ms. Jonda Janet Koffa, testified below oath, figuring out herself as a resident of Sinkor’s seventh Road and the elder sister of co-surety Marjan Mona Koffa. She confirmed her function as a surety and acknowledged her private acquaintance with all 4 defendants.
Following her testimony, the protection moved to confess each oral and documentary proof into the courtroom’s report. The courtroom granted the movement and marked the proof accordingly.
The courtroom then permitted either side to ship authorized arguments, allotting 13 minutes every. The protection cited Chapters 25 and 63 of Liberia’s Civil Process Regulation and referenced the Supreme Court docket’s opinion in Jimmy Sumo, 37 LLR, arguing for the constitutional rights of the accused and the legitimacy of the bond.
Prosecutors, nevertheless, forcefully challenged the bond’s sufficiency. They referenced Sections 63.1, 63.2, and 63.6 of the Civil Process Regulation and cited the Supreme Court docket choice in Griffith v. Wadan, 35 LLR, labeling the felony look bond “bogus and nugatory.”
“The listening to at this time clearly reveals that the defendants failed flatly and miserably to justify the ill-fated and frivolous felony look bond,” prosecutors stated, urging the courtroom to put aside the bond and order the instant rearrest of the lawmakers.
Justice of the Peace Barco reserved his ruling and introduced {that a} closing choice on the bond’s validity could be rendered by noon on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
The Capitol Constructing arson case continues to seize nationwide consideration because of the involvement of high-ranking political figures and the continued authorized wrangling over bail procedures. The end result of Thursday’s ruling will decide whether or not the defendants stay free or return to custody pending trial.
