By By: The people news online
Monrovia, Liberia — Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. has shifted his fight beyond Liberia’s courts, appealing directly to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and other global leaders. In a letter dated Monday, Tweah claims President Joseph Boakai’s administration is pursuing politically driven prosecutions that threaten Liberia’s democratic gains. The move comes weeks after his acquittal in a $6.2 million corruption trial, a verdict the government is now contesting.
Acquittal Sparks Fresh Legal Dispute
On May 8, 2026, a 15-member jury at Criminal Court “C” cleared Tweah and co-defendant Moses Cooper of economic sabotage, theft of property, and money laundering charges linked to an alleged $6.2 million scheme. The ruling drew cheers from opposition supporters but condemnation from ruling party officials. Days later, the court recalled all 15 jurors to probe claims of tampering raised by three jurors who voted guilty. Tweah’s lawyers responded with an emergency petition to the Supreme Court, arguing the probe exceeds the court’s authority now that the jury has been discharged. Lead counsel Cllr. Arthur Johnson said the jurors are private citizens and the trial court has no further jurisdiction over them.
Tweah Frames Case as Opposition Crackdown
From a different angle, Tweah’s letter reframes the prosecution as part of a wider pattern targeting the Congress for Democratic Change ahead of the 2029 elections. He told Guterres and other leaders that the July 2024 indictment lacked evidence and was packaged under anti-corruption rhetoric to neutralize political rivals. Tweah cited additional examples: the executive’s rejection of Supreme Court guidance on the House “Majority Bloc” dispute and the removal of tenured officials despite court protections. He warned that ignoring judicial rulings could destabilize Liberia’s fragile democracy, echoing concerns raised by former President George Weah during a recent UN Peacebuilding Commission meeting.
International Appeal as New Probe Opens
Tweah’s appeal extends to the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Council, and the U.S. Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. He urged international partners to break their silence, stating that Liberia’s “democratic dividend” is being undermined by leaders who underestimate the country’s political fragility. The timing is heightened by reports of a new investigation into a separate $21 million case tied to the previous CDC government — a development critics describe as continued targeting of former officials. As the Supreme Court weighs the petition to stop the juror inquiry, the case is testing the balance between accountability and judicial independence in post-war Liberia.
