Monrovia, Liberia – Two suspects in the December 18, 2024, arson assault on the Capitol Building have been remanded to jail by the Monrovia City Court, which is presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate Ben L. Barco. After a police investigation, the accused Kivi Bah, also known as Kaba, and Jerry Pokah, also known as Tyrese were charged with many crimes and sent to court.
The defendants are charged with arson, reckless burning or exploding, dangerously releasing destructive forces, criminal mischief, recklessly putting another person in risk, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy, and criminal solicitation. Both Eric Susay and Thomas Etheridge, who were also involved in the attack, had previously been charged with these identical felonies.
According to police investigations, escaped suspect John Nyanti discussed burning the Capitol Building with Bah and Pokah and other unnamed people before December 17, 2024. The police claim that Nyanti invited Bah and Pokah to Monrovia that evening, where they met to discuss their plans at a used vehicle yard close to the former Health Ministry in Jallah Town.
According to the police charging sheet, Pokah allegedly said that he and Bah were hungry and in need of money when they were there. Nyanti responded by calling an unnamed colleague, and a white, license plate-less, four-door double-cabin truck soon followed. After taking $100 USD out of the car, Nyanti gave it to Pokah, who gave it to Bah.
Police claim that later that evening, Nyanti escorted Bah and Pokah to the Capitol Building’s pedestrian gate, where they encountered other conspirators Amos Koffa, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, and others. According to reports, Koffa gave Nyanti more money, and Nyanti told Bah to buy petrol from an unidentified seller on Capitol Bypass.
The police further said that by the early hours of December 18, 2024, Bah had returned with the gasoline and was in the Capitol Building with Nyanti, Etheridge, Koffa, Stephen Broh, and others. According to reports, they awaited James Mulbah, the Representatives’ wing’s assigned corridor custodian, who was in charge of opening the building every morning.
Mulbah started unlocking the eastern and northern doors at around 5:40 a.m., at which point the conspirators reportedly crept inside, poured gasoline on the third and fourth floors, and lit them on fire with matches.
On January 23, 2025, Bah was taken into custody by authorities in the St. Paul Bridge neighborhood. Public Defender Atty. Martin Carlon of Montserrado County advised him of his constitutional rights and offered legal counsel. Bah and Pokah accused Nyanti and other people during the interrogation, claiming that Hon. Dixon W. Sebo, Representative of District #16, provided financial backing for the scheme.
According to Bah, he received an invitation to the Capitol Building from Nyanti and an unnamed partner on December 10, 2024. A policeman refused to let him in when he arrived, but he stayed nearby. He further said that Hon. Sebo used a middleman to provide them money for transportation and meals.
Nyanti, Koffa, and a security guard associated with Cllr./Rep. Kofa’s office reportedly called Bah and Pokah during a demonstration at the Capitol Building on December 17, 2024. They allegedly received financial compensation for carrying out the arson attack. According to Bah, Nyanti called Hon. Sebo on a speakerphone and he promised to send the money through his security detail. A white pickup truck pulled up shortly after, and Bah and Pokah were given an additional $100 USD.
Bah and Pokah allegedly asked Nyanti for additional money after the incident, saying they needed enough money to leave the country. Bah, however, said that although he was aware of the plan’s eventual implementation, he ultimately did not take part in starting the fire.
Several parts of Liberia’s Penal Code, including 15.1, 15.70, 15.4, 14.23, 17.11, 10.2, and 10.4, are allegedly violated by the defendants’ activities. They have been detained by the Monrovia City Court for additional court procedures.
Authorities are still working to capture fugitive suspect John Nyanti and other scheme participants. As prosecutors develop their case against the defendants, the matter is still being investigated.
