Government prosecutors have filed a motion with the Supreme Court Bench requesting that outgoing Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyeneh Yuoh recuses herself from presiding over a major economic sabotage trial involving former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and several co-defendants.
According to the motion submitted to the Supreme Court, state lawyers argue that Chief Justice Yuoh reached the constitutional retirement age of 70 on June 26, 2025, and therefore cannot legally commence any new judicial proceedings.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing for July 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. However, prosecutors are seeking a delay, citing what they consider a constitutional impediment to Justice Yuoh’s continued participation in the case.
In their filing, the state legal team referenced Article 72(b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which states:
“The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of subordinate courts of record shall be retired at the age of seventy; provided however, that a Justice or Judge may continue in office for the purpose of performing any judicial duties in relation to proceedings which were commenced before he or she attained that age.”
Prosecutors contend that since the case against Tweah is scheduled to begin after Justice Yuoh’s retirement date, she is no longer constitutionally authorized to preside over it.
The motion forms part of broader efforts by the prosecution to delay proceedings and seek clarity on who should properly oversee the trial.
The Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling on the motion.
Meanwhile, the hearing of Tweah and others has been scheduled for a later date.
