Liberia’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah, has issued a stern warning to those accused of involvement in the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building, declaring that the government is prepared to present sufficient and strong evidence to secure convictions. Speaking to reporters in Monrovia on Thursday, Cllr. Fayiah emphasized that the rule of law must prevail, stressing that no individual, regardless of status, will be above accountability in the face of such a grave national security matter.
“Nobody burns that kind of state’s asset (Capitol Building) and thinks you will go free,” Cllr. Fayiah declared. “We will make sure we provide the required evidence that will convict all of them. The quality of evidence we have is very sufficient; it is not the kind of evidence that can be overturned.” The Solicitor General’s statement comes in the wake of mounting public concerns surrounding the alleged involvement of former House Speaker, Cllr. Fonati Koffa and others in the incident. While investigations remain ongoing, Cllr. Fayiah noted that state prosecutors are working closely with security agencies to ensure that every piece of material and testimonial evidence is properly documented and presented in court.
“This matter will not be swept under the carpet. We will ensure justice is done, not only to protect the sanctity of the Capitol Building, but also to send a strong message that acts of lawlessness and impunity will not be tolerated in Liberia,” he stressed. The Capitol Building, seat of Liberia’s National Legislature, is a historic landmark and a symbol of democracy. Any attack on it, the Solicitor General said, constitutes an attack on the state itself.
While declining to give detailed specifics on the evidence gathered, Cllr. Fayiah assured the Liberian people that the prosecution’s case will be presented transparently in court, where due process will take its course. “This government is committed to upholding the rule of law. We owe that responsibility to the Liberian people, and we will not falter,” he concluded.
