Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, currently entangled in a US$6.2 million corruption and money laundering case, has accused the Liberian government of using the judiciary as a political weapon.
After securing an $8 million criminal appearance bond, Tweah expressed his frustration with what he perceives as a deliberate attempt by government officials to manipulate the legal system for political gain.
In a recent post on his official social media page titled “The Triumph of Liberian Justice,” Tweah described September 25, 2024, as a landmark day for the nation’s legal system.
He praised a judge’s decision to reject what he characterized as a concerted effort by the government to “weaponize and bastardize the judiciary.”
Tweah asserted that this ruling represented one of the “finest days in the administration of independent and transparent justice” in Liberia’s history.
“The judge’s decision to uphold my right to bail will go down in the annals of Liberian jurisprudence,” Tweah wrote.
He accused the government of engaging in a “witch-hunt” against him and other former officials, aiming to gain political points by publicly shaming them.
“I Am Not a Fugitive”
Tweah, who left Liberia on January 23, 2024, and returned to face the charges against him, vehemently denied being a fugitive.
He said that despite warnings from several people advising him against coming back to Liberia due to the government’s alleged intention to parade him unjustly in handcuffs, he felt compelled to return to clear his name.
“As fearless as I am, and knowing I am innocent of the bogus charges, I took in all the advice but countered that there was no way or no chance that I would not return to Liberia, even at the cost of my unjust and politically motivated imprisonment,” he stated.
The former Finance Minister further noted that although many believed a judge could deny bail regardless of the amount, he was prepared to accept his fate if it came to that. However, he expressed relief and gratitude when the judge upheld his right to bail, affirming his belief that there are still men and women in the judiciary who stand for justice.
The former minister’s accusations add to a growing narrative of concern regarding the perceived politicization of Liberia’s judiciary.
He suggested that the government is attempting to pervert the law to demonize its political opponents, stating, “There had to be men and women who would stand for the upright enforcement of the law as it is written, who could resist the threats, blandishments, or emoluments from a sitting government sworn to pervert Liberian law.”
Tweah’s allegations reflect a critique from the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), which has accused the ruling Unity Party-led government of weaponizing state institutions to silence dissent and target political adversaries. The CDC has called for an independent inquiry into these claims, insisting that the judiciary should remain an impartial arbiter of justice.
Former Minister Tweah vowed to continue fighting for what he believes is the truth and to expose what he calls the government’s “doomed fight against corruption.”
“To those who have been dying just to see me unjustly in handcuffs, let me say to you, you do not know, neither do you understand the democratic Liberia we now live in,” he declared. He promised to use upcoming media appearances to expound on what he describes as Liberia’s “rich democratic tradition,” which, he claims, is sustained by a few individuals committed to justice.
