Former Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee has been formally declared innocent in the court of opinion following a series of statements, corrections, and official conclusions involving Momo Johnson, journalist Lennart Dodoo, the Liberia National Police (LNP), and social media activist Matina Konateh. These revelations call into question various long-standing charges levelled against Koijee throughout the years.
Momo Johnson, a major supporter of the ruling Unity Party, defended Koijee in a recent Facebook post, claiming that many of the claims against the former mayor were false and politically motivated.
Johnson brought up the well-known Caldwell land dispute murder claim, noting that on April 22, 2021, talk show presenter Henry P. Costa accused Koijee of killing a man over a land issue. Johnson said that throughout the broadcast, the lady identified as the family’s spokesperson made it plain that Koijee had never been mentioned in connection with her brother’s case.
He emphasised that no documentation was ever produced tying Koijee to the event, and that Koijee was never arrested, prosecuted, or officially investigated, leaving the accusation without factual support.
According to Koijee’s defence, Lennart Dodoo, Managing Editor of The Liberian Investigator and former News Desk Chief of FrontPage Africa, openly refuted that Koijee beat him and stole his work equipment in March 2021.
The claim, made by DTV Liberia, stated that the event occurred when Koijee was mayor. In a statement released on December 13, 2025, Dodoo angrily denied the claim and encouraged the publication to rectify the record. “As a journalist, truth and accuracy must always come first,” Dodoo told the audience. His response fully contradicts the charge and exonerates Koijee of any culpability in that case.
Police Restate Koijee’s Non-Involvement in the Arms Case
On July 23, 2024, the Liberia National Police reported that it had reopened and examined the arms-importation inquiry launched on January 6, 2023. Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman, Inspector General of Police, stated during a news briefing that the prior findings were legitimate and free of political influence.
The LNP reaffirmed that Boyd Benjamin Baker was the principal suspect and that Jefferson Koijee had no link to the illicit weaponry recovered in shipping containers in 2023. Despite widespread internet conjecture at the time, officials stated that no evidence linked Koijee to the weapons.
Matina Konateh Publicly Retracts Claims
In another notable development, Matina Konateh, a social media activist, issued a live Facebook apology to Koijee after admitting she falsely accused him of involvement in the murder case related to former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, in which Charlotte Musu died. “I lied on Jefferson Koijee,” Konateh confessed, acknowledging that the allegations made by her and others were false.
Her apology adds to a growing number of retractions and denials concerning accusations previously made against the former mayor.
Sanctions and Koijee’s Position
Despite these local developments, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed penalties on Koijee under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act from December 8 to 9, 2023.
OFAC claimed that the designation was based on allegations of significant human rights breaches and corruption, which resulted in asset freezes and other punitive sanctions.
Koijee has persistently denied the sanctions as unjustified and politically driven, claiming innocence in interviews and public statements. He is confident that he will finally clear his reputation.
As new witnesses, official clarifications, and public apologies emerge, Jefferson Koijee’s case continues to spark national debate. Supporters feel the increasing rebuttals back up his claims of innocence, while detractors contend that the unresolved international penalties indicate ongoing worries.
The developing events have reignited discussion in Liberia about due process, accountability, media ethics, and the strong influence that social media plays in moulding public image.
