-In Tweah, Others Case
By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Temple of Justice, Monrovia – Former Solicitor General Cllr. Nyanti Tuan has refused to disclose the specific authorization process behind a US$6.4 million transfer from the National Joint Security to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), arguing that written instructions are “irrelevant and immaterial” in matters of national security.
Cllr. Tuan made the assertion on Monday, May 4, 2026, while testifying before the jury at the Temple of Justice. “If a gripper tells you an alligator has four heads…” Under cross-examination, a juror asked the witness: “For the clarity of the jury, in your testimony you said you have 22 years of experience. On September 4, 2023, when Jefferson Karmoh walked to your office, did he present any form of paper that authorized you to transfer the money in question?”
In response, Cllr. Tuan defended his decision to act without written authorization, describing Mr. Karmoh—the head of the Secretariat and a close aide to the President—as a credible authority. “Mr. Karmoh is the head of the Secretariat and is also the closest person to the President,” Cllr. Tuan said. “If a gripper tells you that an alligator has four heads, will you doubt it?”
He continued: “The issue of a letter is irrelevant because this is a matter of confidentiality. It is often said that the first law of nature is self-preservation. Had we not acted, you would not be sitting here today asking this question. Mr. Karmoh himself told this court that he received the letter from me. By that pronouncement, the issue of an instructional letter or any other communication is irrelevant and immaterial.”
When asked whether his request to the Finance Minister for the US$6.4 million was a unilateral decision or a consensus agreement, the former Solicitor General stated that former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah had already testified that the payment was authorized by consensus of the National Security Council (NSC).
“When the situation occurred, the President of Liberia, as Commander-in-Chief and head of state, by consensus with council members, authorized the Ministry of Finance to make payment,” Cllr. Tuan testified. “Mind you, on a need-to-know basis, such authorizations can be done orally or in writing because these are confidential matters.”
Asked to name which security agency received funds from the National Joint Security Operation, Cllr. Tuan declined, citing the principle of compartmentation.
“On the basis of compartmentation, it would breach the National Security Council to disclose any information,” he said. “From all indications, it appears they don’t know that if I do [disclose], I will go to jail for seven years and be fined US$10,000.”
Addressing the FIA’s membership in the National Security Council, Cllr. Tuan explained that the FIA did not exist when the National Security Law was enacted. He argued that while the law originally named specific institutions, it allows for the inclusion of other agencies. “The law makes it expressly clear that other institutions can be added to the NSJ [National Joint Security],” he testified. “The fact that the law was made prior to the FIA’s existence does not relinquish the right of the FIA to be part of the NJS.”
He further noted that the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Bureau of Customs are members of the NJS, while the Minister of Defense is not a member but rather serves as a support ground. “People have argued that in the absence of the Minister of Justice, the Minister of National Defense takes over. That is just an individual’s opinion. I am talking about the law,” Cllr. Tuan added.
Following the testimony of the defense witness, both the defense and the jury rested, leading to the witness being discharged by the court. Meanwhile, the prosecution’s rebuttal witnesses began taking the stand on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
