Liberia: Capitol Arson Suspect Arrested Amid $200,000 Bribery Claims Against Boakai Government

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By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

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John Nyanti, identified as one of the prime suspects in the December 2024 arson attack on Liberia’s Capitol Building, has been arrested and jailed following an international manhunt. His apprehension has ignited a political firestorm, as Nyanti is now making explosive claims that the administration of President Joseph Boakai offered him $200,000 to falsely implicate former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa in the incident.

Nyanti’s arrest, reportedly under an Interpol warrant, marks a significant development in the high-profile case that saw the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building severely damaged by fire on December 18, 2024. Law enforcement officials have described the arson as a direct assault on Liberia’s democratic institutions. Nyanti faces multiple charges under Liberia’s Revised Penal Code, including arson, criminal mischief, conspiracy, facilitation, solicitation, attempted murder, and recklessly endangering another person.

However, the dramatic turn in the investigation came as Nyanti, while being escorted by police, publicly alleged that the current Boakai administration attempted to bribe him. “You said you get evidence, but you want give me $200K to lie against Fonati Koffa,” Nyanti was reportedly overheard stating. He claims to have been under immense pressure from state agents since his return to Liberia on June 6, alleging coercion to serve as a state witness against Koffa and other lawmakers.

Further substantiating these claims, Nyanti’s family held a press conference at the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), providing additional details. Precelia Pyne, speaking on behalf of the family, accused the government of offering John $50,000 upfront and promising relocation to Europe for him and his family, all in exchange for testimony implicating Koffa and three other prominent lawmakers: Representatives Dixon Seboe, Abu Bana Kamara, and Jacob Debee. The family also implicated Ambassador Edward Koffa Nyanti, Liberia’s Special Envoy for Trade and Investment and an uncle to the suspect, alleging his collusion with security forces in forcibly returning John Nyanti from Ghana. The family asserts that John turned over an initial $2,000 payment as evidence.

John Nyanti’s sister, Linda Nyanti, suggested that the entire case against the accused lawmakers is heavily reliant on her brother’s testimony, stating, “All they have is John. Without his testimony, they have no real evidence.” She also alleged threats from a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer against relatives. The family has hailed John as a “hero” for resisting the alleged bribery and has appealed to international human rights organizations, embassies, and civil society groups for intervention.

The Chairman of the CDC Youth League, Emmanuel Mulbah Johnson, has issued a strong warning to the Unity Party-led government, demanding Nyanti’s immediate release and accusing the administration of fabricating charges and intimidating witnesses. Both John Nyanti and co-defendant Amos Kofa had reportedly fled the country after the fire, allegedly with assistance from Representative Dixon Seboe, and had been flagged with Interpol red notices.

This explosive development adds a new layer of complexity to the Capitol Building arson case, raising serious questions about due process, constitutional rights, and the integrity of Liberia’s legal and political systems under the Boakai administration.