Monrovia – The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has accused the Boakai-Koung administration of attempting to undermine Liberia’s judicial independence following the acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. by a criminal court jury.
In a statement issued Tuesday, and signed by CDC National Chairman Atty. Janga Augustus Kowo, the party described Liberia as being at a “defining constitutional moment” and alleged that senior government officials were seeking to overturn what it termed a lawful jury verdict.
The CDC claimed to have received credible information suggesting that Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods were involved in efforts to influence the judiciary. The party further alleged that Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie? No—the statement specifically referred to Judge Ousman Feika as facing intimidation and threats if he refused to act against the jury’s verdict. However, the CDC did not provide evidence to support the allegations.
The opposition warned that any attempt to overturn the verdict or interfere with judicial independence would heighten constitutional tensions and undermine public confidence in the rule of law. It also announced that it would advise Tweah not to comply with any action it considers unconstitutional and vowed to oppose what it described as executive overreach through democratic means.
The CDC called on the judiciary, legal community, civil society, religious institutions, international partners, and citizens to defend constitutional governance and the independence of the courts.
