“Justice Must Be Blind And Not Blinded” -Cllr. Jappah Weigh On Liberia’s Justice System
By Bill W. Cooper
A Liberian Lawyer, Aloysius T. Jappah, has given his legal opinion in the arson case involving former House Speaker Fonati Koffa and four other Representatives, emphasizing the need for impartiality in the country’s justice system, and said, “justice must be blind and not blinded.”
Former Speaker Koffa and his colleagues are facing criminal prosecution over their alleged involvement into an alleged arson attack that witnessed the damaging of the country’s Capitol Building joint chambers in 2024.
The incident which has since been shrouded in controversy, with allegations of negligence and misconduct directed at Koffa and his colleagues, has raised serious concerns about the safety and integrity of the country’s governance structures.
As the case unfolds, it has drawn the attention of both local and international observers, including political and legal pundits, all eager to see how Liberia’s legal system will handle such high-profile figures.
Cllr. Jappah, who is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Liberia National Bar Association wrote, “Liberia must decide whether it wants to be a nation of laws or a nation of political maneuvering.
He said if politically connected individuals are above the law, then no citizen is truly protected by it, owing to the fact that Liberia’s modern democratic journey has been shaped by the painful legacy of war, corruption, and a deep-rooted culture of impunity.
According to Cllr. Jappah, in the aftermath of the civil conflict, the call to end impunity became a national priority, and that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), backed by domestic and international stakeholders, recommended measures to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes and economic crimes would be held accountable.
The counselor explained that it was in this spirit that discussions began around establishing an Office of Economic and War Crimes in Liberia, an office designed not only to prosecute grave offenses but also to symbolize a national commitment to justice and the rule of law.
He narrated, “Yet, nearly two decades since the end of the war, Liberia continues to grapple with a new and evolving form of impunity, political immunity. Today, political figures with connections to the ruling establishment or those strategically aligned with opposition parties often invoke claims of political persecution whenever allegations of wrongdoing arise.”
Cllr. Jappah further indicated that this shift from overt impunity to politically shielded immunity now undermines the country’s justice system and erodes public trust in accountability mechanisms.
He revealed that Liberia’s Constitution and statutory laws grant robust oversight powers to institutions like the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
“Audit reports from these bodies—lawfully sanctioned and constitutionally grounded—have repeatedly revealed mismanagement, fraud, and outright theft of public funds. Yet, efforts to hold accountable those named in these reports are frequently met with fierce resistance.
It has become almost predictable: as soon as an investigation is launched or suspension suggested based on an audit finding, a chorus of voices rises to brand the action as a ‘witch hunt’ or ‘political reprisal,” he said.
Jappah intoned, “The result? Cases are stalled, charges are withdrawn, or trials never even begin. Instead of allowing the legal process to run its course, political pressure and public outcry prematurely derail justice.”
He explained that in mature democracies, the rule of law requires that all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, be subjected to the same legal standards, while citizens march in the streets demanding justice for victims, for accountability, and for institutional reform.
Jappah mentioned, “In Liberia, however, it is not uncommon to see mass protests aimed at preventing prosecution or disrupting legal proceedings. The aim is not to assert innocence through the courts but to obstruct justice outside of them. These actions represent not a defense of liberty but a defense of impunity.”
“This culture of pretrial protest undermines the independence and integrity of the judiciary. It influences public opinion prematurely, taints potential jurors, and places undue pressure on judges and prosecutors.
When legal matters are fought in the streets rather than in the courts, the result is often an unjust outcome—either by intimidating the justice system into submission or by politicizing verdicts to satisfy public sentiment,” he maintained.
The Lawyer at the same time asserted, “No justice system is perfect. Courts are staffed by humans, and human error is inevitable. Innocent individuals may be accused. However, the legal system exists precisely to weigh evidence, protect rights, and determine guilt or innocence.”
He further emphasized that the courtroom is where justice is pursued and where innocence is vindicated—not the court of public opinion or the noisy streets of political theater, and noted, “By sabotaging this process through protests and accusations of bias without evidence, Liberia weakens the very system that protects its democracy.”
Cllr. Jappah maintained, “The right to protest must never be used as a shield against accountability. Rather than impeding investigations or threatening judicial officers, political actors and their supporters must embrace the justice process as the ultimate forum for truth.”
Liberia must decide whether it wants to be a nation of laws or a nation of political maneuvering. The selective application of justice based on political ties corrodes public institutions and ensures that impunity thrives. If politically connected individuals are above the law, then no citizen is truly protected by it. Political immunity is not a shield of justice—it is a dagger in the heart of the rule of law. The culture of impunity can only be broken when Liberians, across all political spectrums, commit to upholding the principle that no one is above the law,” he added