-Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah denounces arrest Warrant as politically motivated
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – In a statement issued Monday, Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, brands the Monrovia City Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for him as the initiation of a politically motivated “witch-hunt” against him. The court’s action arises from serious allegations of economic sabotage and misuse of public funds.
Tweah writes: “My fellow Liberians, partisans, friends, and family,” he began, “today, a politically motivated witch-hunt has been officially launched against my person, calling for my arrest. Over the last six years, I have been a major political target and have faced falsely devilish accusations, spanning from a so-called 25 million mop-up propaganda through the 16 billion concoctions to so many other fabrications intended to besmirch my reputation and derail my political institution.
He pointed to a history of allegations against him, including accusations related to a controversial $25 million monetary policy and the infamous $16 billion scandal, which he claims are fabrications aimed at discrediting him. “Today, the Unity Party: facing massive allegations of ongoing corruption, including a UP GOVERNMENT-sanctioned CBL payment of US$8 million of Liberia reserve money to SIB bank which funded the UP campaign (read FPA story today); shamelessly turning a blind eye to mountains of audit reports detailing the gutting of the Liberian Treasury under its 12-year rule; and experiencing very low public rating due to its six-month failures as a Government, has decided to politically witch-hunt me and former officials of the CDC,” he said.
Tweah went on to criticize the Unity Party, which he accused of engaging in corrupt practices, including a recent $8 million payment from the Central Bank of Liberia to a bank that allegedly funded the party’s campaign. “The Unity Party, facing its own massive allegations of corruption and public disapproval, has resorted to targeting me and other former officials of the CDC,” he stated.
Vowing to fight the charges, Tweah expressed his determination to clear his name through the judicial process. “Working with my lawyers and others, I stand ready to defeat this witch-hunt and vindicate my reputation through the justice system. In the end, I will emerge stronger, and my enemies will be put to shame!
The Monrovia City Court Monday issued arrest warrants for five former high-ranking officials of the Liberian government, including Samuel D. Tweah, the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and Clr. Nyenati Tuan, the former Acting Minister of Justice.
The arrest warrants were issued following a formal complaint lodged by the Republic of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). The defendants are accused of orchestrating a complex scheme to defraud the government, which allegedly took place in July 2023.
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to include Stanley S. Ford, the former Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), as a member of the National Security Council of Liberia, in violation of the National Security Act. Subsequently, in September 2023, they allegedly engaged in unauthorized and illegal activities under the guise of their official duties, resulting in the theft and misappropriation of substantial amounts of money from the Central Bank of Liberia.
The total amount allegedly stolen includes L$1,055,152,540.00 and US$5,000,000.00, which were reportedly transferred to the FIA’s operational accounts. Investigators claim that these funds were withdrawn almost immediately after the transfers, indicating a well-coordinated effort to siphon off public resources for personal gain.
Recently, ex-officials of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, including Samuel Tweh, former Finance Minister; Bill T. Twehway, Senator of River Cess County; Wilhelmina Jallah, former Health Minister; and Mr. Trokon Williams, have been summoned by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for questioning into the mysterious death of Emmanuel Barthan Nyeswa, the former Director General of the Internal Audit Agency.
