– Cephus affirms, As Court Pushes To Recover Miners’ 53.3-carat Diamond from Ex-Officials
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – The legal battle over a 53.3-carat diamond has taken a new and contentious turn, with reports that the precious stone was allegedly sold by the past administration for a fraction of its value in direct contradiction of a Supreme Court order. This discover has also been acknowledged by the attorney for the legally recognized owners. Cllr. Saymah Cyrenius Cephus, the former Solicitor General who now represents the licensed miners declared the diamond’s rightful owners, made these allegations over the weekend following a court appearance. He claims the gem, valued at approximately $11.5 million, was sold for a mere $1.4 million while its ownership was still being contested at the nation’s highest court.
The dispute originated when the government of former President George Weah, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, seized the diamond, asserting it was state property. Then-Minister of Justice, Frank Musa Dean, formally championed this position, declaring the diamond belonged to the Government of Liberia. The licensed miners, David Sluward and Abraham Kamara, challenged this seizure in the Civil Law Court of Montserrado County. The court ruled in the miners’ favor, finding the government’s claim to be unlawful. The Weah-era administration, refusing to accept the lower court’s decision, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a final legal showdown over the asset’s ownership.
A Supreme Court Victory for the Miners:
In a judgment on August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive victory to the miners. The Court, in an opinion read by retired Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyeneh Yuoh, affirmed the lower court’s ruling. The Court’s decision hinged on a nuanced point of law. While the Constitution vests all mineral resources in the government, it also allows for those rights to be legally transferred through licenses. The Supreme Court found that Sluward and Kamara held a valid Class “C” Mining License, having filed a timely renewal that was approved by the government itself. Therefore, the government’s attempt to reclaim the diamond was invalid.
The Court consequently ordered the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Diamond Dealers Association to return the diamond to the miners or pay them its full fair market value. Now acting as counsel for the victorious miners, Cllr. Cephus says the diamond was allegedly sold off while the Supreme Court was still deliberating. “People started coming now and confessing. They said they sold the diamond for 1.4 million dollars,” Cephus stated, alleging a massive financial loss for his clients.
He further claimed that only $50,000 from this sale found its way into government revenue, raising profound questions about the whereabouts of the remaining $1.35 million. Cephus pointed the finger directly at former officials, alleging, “Murray authorized the seal of the diamond,” implicating former Minister of Mines and Energy, Gesler E. Murray. He identified the buyer as Mustafa Tonkara and asserted that he possesses documentary proof of an export application. “The fact of the matter is they stole the people’s diamond. While the matter was in court, they sold the diamond,” Cephus alleged, framing the act as a brazen contempt of the judicial process.
Enforcement Efforts Meet Alleged Evasion
With the Supreme Court’s mandate clear, the case has returned to the lower court to enforce the judgment. However, Cllr. Cephus reports a systematic effort to obstruct the process. “But every time they cite them for a conference, they don’t show up. Every time they cite him for conference, he (Frank Musa Dean) doesn’t show up. He and Gestler E. Murray,” Cephus told reporters. After the cited individuals failed to appear at a recent hearing, the prosecution filed a formal application demanding they show cause for their absence. The judge has responded with a firm ultimatum.
A new notice of assignment has been served, compelling Mustafa Tonkara, Frank Musa Dean, Gesler E. Murray, and Emmanuel T. Swen to appear in court this Monday at 3:00 PM. Cllr. Cephus emphasized that the judge has declared there will be “no further notice for assignment,” signaling that the court’s patience has been exhausted. The former Solicitor General outlined the high stakes of the upcoming hearing. “If Frank Musa Dean and Gestler E. Murray don’t show up the court will be left with no other alternative but to take the most appropriate action, in keeping with the law,” he stated.
He directed a pointed warning at former Justice Minister Dean, whom he accused of evading legal service. “I want my friend to understand the futility of his action… It will be highly disastrous for him,” Cephus cautioned. “I hope he understands the gravity of his action, because [it would be] a serious miscalculation on his part.” Cephus expressed unwavering confidence that the legal process would ultimately force a full disclosure. He specifically mentioned securing the “vendor return form,” a document that would detail the buyer, the sale price, and the transaction’s particulars.
“We’ll get our diamond, we’ll get our money. We’ll get all that information,” he asserted, vowing to secure for his clients either the diamond or its full $11.5 million value as ordered by the Supreme Court. The Monday hearing now stands as a critical juncture, determining whether the accused will comply with the court or face severe legal consequences for their continued absence, potentially including charges of contempt of court. Attempts to reach Frank Musa Dean, Gesler E. Murray, and other named individuals for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
Struggle over the ownership:
Following months of concerns over the ownership of the diamond, the Ministry of Justice concluded that the controversial 53.34- tressure was for tthe Liberian government. This finding was detailed in the Ministry’s investigative report into the diamond’s origins and ownership, a document mandated by former President George Manneh Weah. The diamond was discovered in Smith Town, Gbarpolu County, and has since been the subject of a complex dispute involving several parties. It was found at a site known as Claim Number #9 Diamond Creek by a group of miners led by fisherman Mohammed Kamara, also called “Iron Jacket.”
In an official communication dated June 5, 2023, and signed by the former Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, the Ministry informed the former Minister of Mines and Energy, Gesler E. Murray, that the investigation was complete. The communication stated, “We present our compliments and herewith forward to you the investigation Report into the origin and ownership of the 53.34-carat diamond, found in Gbarpolu County, Smith Town.”
According to the Ministry’s report, the diamond was discovered at Claim 12 F Survey in the Gbarma Mining District. The Ministry’s position rests on a constitutional interpretation, specifically citing Article 22(a), which states that private property rights do not extend to mineral resources, which belong to the Republic.
The former Justice Minister’s communication emphasized that all mining must be licensed by the government. It argued that since the claimant’s license had expired on May 25, 2022, and the diamond was found on April 21, 2023, the claimant had “lost all legal rights, privileges, and claims to the diamond.” However, this decision was met with strong opposition. The miner of the claim, T. Daniel Sluaward, publicly condemned the Justice Ministry’s conclusion, describing it as “wicked and evil” and warning it could incite conflict. Sluaward contested the claim that his license was invalid, arguing that he had paid the Ministry of Mines and Energy for its renewal and was issued a flag receipt.
He placed the blame squarely on the Ministry, alleging bureaucratic negligence. “The ministry is so careless and irresponsible that when you pay for your license, it just gives you the flag receipt but it can’t process the license,” Sluaward stated. “They shift the blame to their inactive system.” Further complicating the saga, another party emerged with a competing claim. Fallah B. Kamara, President of the Liberia Gold and Diamond Brokers Association and a member of the LEITI Board of Directors accused the Ministry of Mines and Energy of conducting a “kangaroo” investigation and handing the diamond to the wrong owner for a kickback.
Kamara presented a different account of the discovery, asserting that “Iron Jacket” found the diamond at a creek called Claim #9, which is owned by veteran mineral dealer Fatu Nyumah, widely known as Ma Fatu Borbor. According to Kamara, the miner was working at Ma Fatu’s claim when he discovered the stone, and news was relayed to the owner, who was in Monrovia at the time.
