Monrovia – Distinguished opposition leaders have rallied their supporters to end up en masse on the Temple of Justice in a present of solidarity with 4 members of the Home of Representatives who’re at the moment held in detention on the Monrovia Central Jail awaiting court docket trial.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The lawmakers together with former Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Reps. Jacob Debee (District #3, Grand Gedeh County), Abu Bana Kamara (District 15, Montserrado County) and Dixon Wlawlee Seboe (District #16, Montserrado). These lawmakers, together with Rep. Priscilla Cooper (District #5, Montserrado County) had been charged by the Liberia Nationwide Police with masterminding the Capitol constructing “arson assault”. Nonetheless, Police launched Rep. Cooper whereas her colleagues spent one night time in detention on the police headquarters earlier than being taken to the Monrovia Central Jail the subsequent day on Saturday.
Rep. Cooper is claimed to have been granted a medicine dispensation by Monrovia Metropolis Courtroom George Ben Barco, however denied an identical request by Rep. Kamara who reportedly suffered hypertension. This led to outcry from the opposition, terming this as selective justice. The Police and the Courtroom are but to reply.
At this time marks the 4 lawmakers three days in detention since they left their houses and voluntarily drove to the police headquarters for questioning.
Forward of their anticipated court docket look at present, Liberia’s main opposition leaders have expressed issues over what they describe as a politically motivated and “premeditated” transfer by the Liberian Nationwide Police to detain them, calling it a violation of due course of and a risk to democratic norms.
In response, political leaders together with former President George Weah, ex-Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, former presidential candidate Alexander Cummings, Rep. Musa Bility and Dee Maxwell Kemayah, have mobilized their partisans and sympathizers to peacefully assemble on the Temple of Justice at present, calling for his or her speedy launch and respect for the rule of regulation.
Weah: “This isn’t the rule of regulation”
Former President George M. Weah, in a radio broadcast that was stay streamed on social media, described the detention as a calculated transfer to imprison the lawmakers with out honest trial or due course of.
“Tomorrow is the court docket’s day. I need to condemn the motion of the federal government to detain our legislative leaders with the intention to ship them to jail. This isn’t the rule of regulation. I imagine this was premeditated… We’re calling on all our partisans to end up tomorrow. Let’s assemble on the court docket,” Weah stated.
“These are the leaders of our nation. You known as them to query them, and also you detained them with the intention to ship them to jail. That is unfair. I imagine that is fallacious. We might be on the court docket tomorrow.”
He emphasised the significance of peaceable protest, urging all Liberians to affix the demonstration in solidarity with the detained lawmakers. “We’re calling on all our partisans to end up tomorrow let assemble on the court docket. I’m calling on all residents, all partisans, well-wishers and sympathizers to come back and let’s stand with our lawmakers.”
Cummings: “They’re weaponizing the judiciary”
Alexander B. Cummings, political chief of the Various Nationwide Congress (ANC), accused the federal government of weaponizing the judiciary to focus on political opponents.
“They’re trying to weaponize the judiciary. They’re ignoring, in my thoughts, the presumption of innocence… That is very private. I’ve been a sufferer. They use the judiciary towards me, my very own colleagues, and that is what they’re doing,” he stated, referring to his ordeal in 2022 when leaders of the defunct Collaborating Political Occasion (CPP) accused him of altering the framework doc.
He additionally rallied supporters to assemble peacefully in help of Koffa and his colleagues. “That is about peaceable meeting. It’s the proper of Liberians to do it peacefully. No rioting, no vandalism… However I encourage my supporters to come back and assemble peacefully. Not simply my supporters however each Liberian. Our folks is not going to have interaction in violence tomorrow. I name on the police to permit folks to peacefully assemble. It’s their proper.”
Howard-Taylor: “Let the regulation take preeminence”
Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor of the Nationwide Patriotic Occasion (NPP) added a extra measured tone, calling for religion within the authorized course of and urging the judiciary to deal with the detained lawmakers pretty.
“It is a bailable offence. I don’t assume these lawmakers will run away… I pray that they are going to be given the prospect to excellent their bonds. I feel when the court docket course of begins, the regulation would be the regulation,” she famous.
Madam Taylor and her former boss, former President Weah, visited Koffa and his colleagues on the Monrovia Central Jail. Chatting with reporters after spending an hour with them, she expressed unhappiness over their incarceration, however stated the 4 males had been in good situation and excessive spirits as they ready to face court docket proceedings on at present, Monday.
“Fonati Koffa is my brother, and we simply got here to say hiya and encourage him,” she stated. “He’s somebody who respects the rule of regulation, and we hope that the authorized course of takes its course.”
Bility: “The regulation should not be abused”
Consultant Musa Hassan Bility, political chief of the Residents Motion for Change (CMC), warned towards any try by the Ministry of Justice to extend bond quantities, calling it a misuse of authorized authority.
“The facility that the regulation has given to the Ministry of Justice shouldn’t be abused… We insist that our partisans come out and so they have to be peaceable,” Bility declared.
Bility Assertion comes after a directive from the Central Financial institution of Liberia (CBL) positioned a freeze on the issuance of court docket bonds by industrial banks and insurance coverage corporations with out prior written clearance from its Insurance coverage Division.
The measure, issued beneath Directive No. CBL/ID/DIR/0011/2025, mandates that any establishment looking for to difficulty a court docket bond should first acquire formal approval from the Central Financial institution of Liberia’s Insurance coverage Division. The directive requires insurers to submit notarized and licensed audited monetary statements, together with a complete report of all excellent bonds, earlier than making any new requests. Though the directive was issued on Might 16, 2025, critics argue that it’s a refined try by the federal government to tighten restrictions and make it tougher for Speaker Koffa and his associates to safe bail. The CBL didn’t reply to FrontPage Africa’s inquiry when contacted.
Kemayah: “Justice will prevail”
Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, political chief of the Motion for Financial Empowerment (MOVEE) and former Overseas Minister of Liberia, praised the resolve of the detained lawmakers and affirmed his occasion’s dedication to becoming a member of the peaceable protest.
“Regardless of the humiliating and devastating situation, they’re being subjected to, based mostly on politics, I noticed them brave and in excessive spirit. MOVEE and its partisans… might be becoming a member of different political events. I emphasize that they have to assemble peacefully and keep away from any semblance of chaos.”
Coleman: “This isn’t a political battle’
In the meantime, Police Inspector Common Gregory Coleman has defended the police actions. On his Fb web page, Coleman stated the fees introduced ahead are based mostly on provisions of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, together with arson, felony conspiracy, and associated offenses, and never politically motivated.
“Let me be clear: this isn’t a political battle. It is a matter of justice. The regulation doesn’t see colours or occasion traces, it sees information, and it calls for accountability,” he stated.
He added: “To these circulating messages of unrest or calling for violence, be reminded that Liberia has paid a heavy worth for peace. We is not going to permit worry, threats, or incitement to reverse our good points. The Liberia Nationwide Police stays vigilant, skilled, and dedicated to defending all residents with out bias or favor. We urge each Liberian no matter affiliation to stay calm and respect the judicial course of. We’re stronger once we resolve our variations via dialogue, not destruction.”
Because the political temperature rises, all eyes are on the Temple of Justice, the place the subsequent chapter of this unfolding drama is predicted to play out. The opposition has vowed to take care of a peaceable posture, however issues stay about potential confrontations as crowds collect in central Monrovia.
FrontPage Africa will proceed to observe developments all through the day.
