Fact-Check: Did Chief Inspector Admits to Rep. Koffa Voice on Audio Recording?
Claim: “Chief Inspector Peter Johnson, serving as a government witness, said Representative J. Fonati Koffa admitted his voice was on an audio recording.”
Verdict: Misleading
Full Text: Liberian journalist Nyantee Togba posted on Facebook on June 10, 2025, claiming that Peter Johnson, chief inspector of the Liberia National Police (LNP), testified that Representative J. Fonati Koffa "admitted to investigators that his (Koffa's) voice was on an audio recording" but later denied having the conversation captured in the recording.
The post, which generated significant social media engagement with 125 reactions, 122 comments, and 8 shares, has contributed to public confusion about the ongoing Capitol Building arson case.
Background:
The claim stems from the ongoing investigation into the December 18, 2024, fire that gutted the rotunda of the Capitol Building, which serves as the Joint Chambers of the Liberian Legislature. On January 8, 2025, the LNP and Liberia National Fire Service officially declared the incident an act of arson.
Following the investigation, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman invited seven representatives to appear for questioning on June 6, 2025. While two lawmakers were released, five were arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including arson, criminal conspiracy, and criminal solicitation.
Verification: Stage Media's review of court records from the preliminary hearing at Monrovia City Court reveals a different narrative than what was claimed on social media.
When Chief Inspector Johnson took the witness stand, prosecution lawyer Cllr. Richard Scott questioned him about Representative Koffa's involvement in the investigation. Johnson's testimony focused on two key areas:
Johnson testified that Koffa referenced "Alamo" in a Facebook post dated July 17, which investigators interpreted as motivation for the alleged arson. Johnson explained that "Alamo, from our investigation standpoint, was a war that existed between Texas and Mexico, and in that war, people were killed, and women were raped."
The inspector described alleged conversations between Koffa and co-defendant Abu Kamara, including exchanges about presidential legitimacy and plans for the Capitol Building. According to Johnson's testimony, the conversation included references to having "actors" present and "Plan B" for the following day.
Significantly, Johnson noted that when questioned, Kamara claimed the audio evidence was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Our further research found that the exact statement of Koffa admitting to his voice in the recording was made by Rafell A. Wilson, government second witness and not Johnson.
Wilson, the chief investigator at the Crime Services Department of the Liberian National Police, testified as the government's second witness.
When questioned about what he meant by "open source," the investigator explained that open source refers to information that is unrestricted and already available to the public. The investigator's testimony quoted Koffa as saying, "A portion of the recording is my voice; the other one you can ask Abu about. Maybe somebody was recording and he did not know."
Conclusion: Court records examined by Stage Media show no evidence that Representative Koffa "admitted his voice was on an audio recording," as claimed in the viral post.
Johnson's testimony centered on describing the content of alleged conversations and analyzing Koffa's social media activity, not on any admission by Koffa regarding audio recordings. The testimony was wrongly attributed to Johnson.
Note: Misinformation about ongoing legal proceedings can undermine public trust in the judicial system and prejudice potential jury pools. As this high-profile case continues, it's crucial that citizens rely on verified court records rather than unconfirmed social media claims. Stage Media will continue monitoring this developing story and fact-checking claims as they emerge.
