By: Melvin Flomo
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Monrovia, Liberia– The Monrovia City Court has issued a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica against former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and four other lawmakers in connection with the December 2024 fire that damaged the Capitol Building.
Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco granted the writ following a petition by state prosecutors aimed at preventing the accused from leaving Liberia while facing serious criminal charges.
The lawmakers affected by the travel ban include Reps. J. Fonati Koffa, Abu Bana Kamara, Dixon Wlawlee Seboe, Jacob C. Debee, and Priscilla A. Cooper.
They are facing multiple charges, including arson, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation, stemming from a police investigation into the mysterious fire incident at the Legislature.
According to judicial sources, Magistrate Barco has instructed all national security agencies to arrest the accused lawmakers if they attempt to exit the country by any means. The court's decision came just a day after Koffa and three of the accused were remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison pending trial.
The Latin term “Ne Exeat Republica” translates as “let him not leave the republic.” It is a legal writ used by courts to bar individuals from leaving a jurisdiction typically in cases where there are concerns that the person might attempt to flee to avoid legal obligations.
In this case, the issuance of the writ underscores the court’s concerns over the lawmakers’ potential flight amid ongoing criminal proceedings, which some believe could be linked to broader corruption or misconduct allegations.
The legal and political implications of the case continue to unfold as the court prepares for trial proceedings in one of Liberia’s most high-profile criminal cases involving sitting members of the National Legislature.
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