Nyanti, Family Give Conflicting Account On Bribery Allegations: Who’s Saying The Truth ?

By Precious D. Freeman
In a stunning development that threatens to derail one of Liberia’s most politically charged investigations, Capitol arson suspect John Nyanti has accused the Liberian Government of attempting to bribe him with over US$200,000 to falsely implicate former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa in the December 2024 fire that gutted a portion of the Capitol Building.
Nyanti, who had been on the run for months and was recently extradited from Ghana, made the explosive claims on Tuesday while being escorted under heavy police guard to the Monrovia City Court.
“What was supposed to be a routine court appearance turned into a bombshell revelation,” said one courtroom observer.
Speaking to reporters as he was led into the courthouse, Nyanti alleged that since June 6, he had been held in secret detention at a hotel in Monrovia, under the constant watch of state security officers.
He said he was approached by individuals he identified only as agents “106,” “103,” and one Mark Ambula, who allegedly pressured him to implicate Koffa in exchange for money.
“They offered me two hundred thousand U.S. dollars to lie,” Nyanti declared. “It’s a blatant lie. It’s a lie from the belly of the devil. You have evidence, then you want to give me $200,000 to lie?”
While Nyanti did not present material proof of the alleged bribery or coercion, his claims are already igniting renewed political tension in a nation still reeling from the December 18 fire that crippled its legislature and sent shockwaves through the political establishment.
The early morning fire, which devastated the legislative chambers of the Capitol Building, was quickly deemed a deliberate act.
The government launched a full-scale investigation, naming several high-ranking members of the then-ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as persons of interest. Among them were former Speaker Koffa, Representatives Dixon Seboe, Abu Bana Kamara, and Jacob Debee.
As suspicions mounted and political rhetoric escalated, multiple figures fled the country—including John Nyanti, who was later identified as a potential state witness with insider knowledge of the incident.
Nyanti’s family insists that his return to Liberia was not voluntary. Speaking to the press earlier this week, his sister, Priscilla Nyanti, said he was “coerced” into returning under a secret agreement allegedly orchestrated by the Liberia National Police (LNP), the National Security Agency (NSA), and a family relative, Koffa Nyanti.
According to her, the deal included promises of legal immunity, a US$50,000 payment, and relocation to Europe—all of which were reportedly never honored.
They added that the government offered US$50,000 but gave them US$2,000 up front.
“John thought he was going to be protected,” Priscilla said. “Instead, he was taken directly to the Lifestyle Hotel in Thinkers Village and placed under surveillance. He’s now being used as a pawn in a political game.”
As of press time, neither the Liberia National Police nor the Ministry of Justice had responded to the allegations.
Legal analysts say that if Nyanti’s claims are substantiated, they could dramatically affect the course of the Capitol arson case—potentially invalidating key aspects of the government’s investigation and raising serious concerns about the integrity of law enforcement.
“Bribery and coercion of witnesses are serious crimes,” said civil rights attorney Musa Trawally. “This isn’t just a matter of legal misconduct—it could amount to a gross abuse of power with significant political consequences.”
For now, John Nyanti remains in custody at the Monrovia Central Prison as the country awaits further developments in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential trials in recent Liberian history.
The Capitol Building fire not only disrupted national governance but also exposed deep rifts within Liberia’s political and security institutions. With these new accusations, the case has now taken a darker and more complex turn—raising questions about the limits of justice and the cost of political ambition.