– After Stay Order
By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
More than three months after the Supreme Court of Liberia issued a stay order in the high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and other officials from the George Weah administration, the Court has yet to act — raising concerns over judicial delays and perceptions of political shielding.
Legal pundits and observers have begun to question whether the nation’s highest court is abandoning the case altogether, warning that continued silence could erode public trust in the rule of law.
The case, which alleges unauthorized transfers of over L$1 billion and US$500,000 from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), has far-reaching implications for governance and Liberia’s fight against corruption.
The defendants, including former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and four others, were indicted in September 2024 after the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) filed a complaint through the Ministry of Justice. They were formally arraigned in December 2024, pleading not guilty to all charges. These include economic sabotage, fraud on the internal revenue, misuse of public money, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation, and criminal conspiracy.
The allegations center on financial transfers made between September 8 and 21, 2023, which prosecutors argue lacked proper documentation or legal authorization.
In February 2025, defense lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case at Criminal Court “C”, arguing that their clients were immune due to acting on instructions from the President and the National Security Council.
However, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie denied the motion. He ruled that the charges fall squarely within the court’s jurisdiction. He further concluded that the National Security Reform and Intelligence Act of 2011 does not provide immunity in cases involving public funds. The judge emphasized that Article 61 of the Constitution applies only to a sitting President and not appointed officials. He also noted that the defense failed to present any documentary evidence showing that the transactions were authorized by the National Security Council.
On March 6, 2025, the defense filed a petition for a writ of prohibition. In response, Associate Justice Ceaineh D. Clinton-Johnson issued a stay order, temporarily halting proceedings at the trial court. A conference to consider the petitioners’ request was held on March 10, 2025.
At the conference, Justice Johnson granted an alternative writ of prohibition, effectively freezing the trial and instructing the government to file a formal response by March 20, 2025. The matter was expected to be reviewed by the Full Bench of the Supreme Court.
However, since that ruling, the Supreme Court has yet to hold arguments or issue any further decisions, leaving the case in limbo.
With just three months remaining in the March Term of Court, observers are questioning the Supreme Court’s delay. Under the Judiciary Law (Rev. Code 17:2.5), the Court operates two terms annually—beginning on the second Monday of March and October.
Though the law specifies the start of each term, it does not define specific end dates. Typically, the March Term concludes before the October Term begins, placing increasing pressure on the Court to act within the remaining window.
Critics argue that continued delays may be interpreted as a lack of commitment to prosecuting corruption—especially at the highest levels—despite public demands for transparency and accountability.
As the clock ticks toward the end of the Court’s current term, the question remains: Will the Supreme Court break its silence on the Tweah case—or let the stay linger into the next term?
