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Justice-In-Chamber, Her Honor, Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, has suspended ruling in the Capitol Building arson case.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia; October 3, 2025 – Supreme Court of Liberia Justice-In-Chamber, Her Honor, Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, has suspended ruling in the high-profile Capitol Building arson case, involving former Speaker Cllr: Jonathan Fonati Koffa, colleagues, and several others.
This followed heated arguments between the defendants and the prosecution on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
After the parties appeared, the case was called, and they noted their representations. Following that, the defense was allowed to present its case, providing legal citations and reasons why its writ of certiorari should be granted, while outlining the alleged errors in the ruling.
Defendants in their argument, respectfully asked Chamber Justice Wolokolie and the Supreme Court to issue writ of certiorari against the trial judge, His Honour, Roosevelt Willie, Resident Circuit Judge, Presiding, of the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes for Montserrado County, Sitting in its August Term, A.D. 2025, to fix the alleged mistakes made in his ruling.
“WHEREFORE, Petitioners most respectfully pray this Honourable Court to: Issue the Writ of Certiorari, ordering the submission to this court the records from Criminal Court “A” for review. Reverse and set aside the ruling of His Honour, Roosevelt Z. Willie, denying the Motion to Suppress. Suppress all evidence obtained through illegal search and seizure, ultra vires actions of the NSA, defective chain of custody, unauthorized LPRC analysis, and coerced confessions. Reverse and overrule the Judge’s decision to overrule the medical report of AMI since his decision to set aside the medical report from AMI was not supported by any medical or scientific reliance; Order the return of the Petitioners’ property unlawfully seized. Grant any further relief deemed just, legal, and equitable.” They respectfully submitted.
According to the defense, the judge’s decision to deny their request to suppress the evidence submitted to the court is contrary to Article 21(b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which prohibits illegal searches and seizures and regulates certain aspects of the Criminal Procedure Law, Chapter 11.
They further noted that it also ignored essential decisions made by the court, such as Joshua Raynes et al. v. Republic of Liberia, 36 LLR 246 (1989), and Cece Netty Blanquett v. Government of the Republic of Liberia (2009).
“If the Motion to Suppress is not corrected, it will allow the use of evidence that was obtained illegally [that] is not reliable, and is not constitutional in the criminal trial that is currently going on in the court below.” They stated.
They maintained that evidence obtained in violation of the law is inadmissible, stressing that the Judge’s ruling undermines the due process and equal protection guaranteed under Article 20(a) of the Constitution.
They further indicated that the doctrine of the exclusionary rule, recognized both in Liberian and U.S. jurisprudence, mandates suppression to deter governmental misconduct and protect judicial integrity.
“The ruling of the Trial Judge allowing illegally obtained evidence to remain in the record constitutes an error of law correctable by certiorari under Civil Procedure Law § 16.21 applicable in criminal procedure law. The evidence was obtained in violation of statutory and constitutional safeguards, making its admission a miscarriage of justice. This Honourable Court has repeatedly recognized that unlawfully obtained evidence cannot serve as the basis for a conviction. See Cece Netty Blanquette versus RL (2009); Rynes et al. v. RL (1989).” They noted.
They disclosed that the exclusionary rule, firmly established in both Liberian and American jurisprudence, exists to deter unlawful government conduct and protect judicial integrity, adding that the denial of the Motion to Suppress undermines both.
“Petitioner says that this Petition is sound in law, and to certify this averment, the Petitioners have obtained the certification of two Counsellors-At-Law of the Honourable Supreme Court of Liberia that the averments are true and correct in keeping with facts and law.” They concluded.
For their part, the prosecutors, however, urged the court to reject the defense request, terming it a delay tactic and adding that they have no case.
Recently, Associate Justice Wolokolie placed an immediate stay order on the high-profile Capitol Building arson case, after a ruling by Judge Roosevelt Willie.
The order is based on the defense motion and petition to the High Court Chamber Justice, requesting a writ of certiorari, just one day following the ruling from Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, who denied the defense request to suppress the evidence submitted by the prosecution in the proceeding.
“By directive of Her Honor, Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with Her Honor, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the hour of 3:00 p.m., in connection with the above captioned case. Meanwhile, you are ordered to stay all further proceedings and/or actions in the matter, pending the outcome of the conference. Kind regards. Very truly yours, Cllr. Sam Mamalu, CLERK, SUPREME COURT”, the writer concluded.
The writ of Certiorari is the primary means of petitioning the court for review by asking it to grant a writ of certiorari. This is a request that the Supreme Court order a lower court to send up the record of the case for review. Editing by Jonathan Browne
