Supreme Court Chambers Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie has issued a temporary stay order on all proceedings related to the high-profile Capitol Building arson case involving prominent lawmakers J. Fonati Kofa, Dixon W. Seboe, Abu B. Kamara, and Jacob C. Debbie.
The decision was communicated through a directive from the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Sam Mamulu, on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
The stay follows a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari filed by former House Speaker Kofa and his co-petitioners against Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A.”
The case stems from legal proceedings initiated at Criminal Assizes “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
In the directive signed by Clerk Mamulu, the Supreme Court summoned Judge Willie to appear before Her Honor Justice Wolokolie, who is presiding in Chambers, for a conference.
The conference is scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Temple of Justice.
A Writ of Certiorari is a legal instrument used to seek the Supreme Court’s review of a lower court’s decision, usually on grounds that the lower court exceeded its jurisdiction or committed a significant legal error.
Although the specific allegations in the Capitol Building arson case remain undisclosed, sources indicate the matter could carry serious political or financial consequences.
Legal analysts suggest that the Supreme Court’s swift intervention underscores the constitutional or procedural weight of the issues raised in the petition.
All proceedings before the lower court have been suspended pending the outcome of the scheduled conference. The stay order aims to preserve the petitioners’ rights while the Supreme Court evaluates the legality of the lower court’s actions.
This case adds to a growing list of high-profile legal battles facing Liberia’s judiciary and could have far-reaching implications depending on the Court’s eventual ruling.
