CDC’s Major  Sinister Motive Uncovered

11 Mins Read

ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: An unconfirmed information reaching Afric Daily Newspaper suggests that the former presideny, George Weah and his close cronies are planning to draft a letter to be backdated with the intent to submit it to the Criminal Court ‘C’ following a recent decision/opinion from the Supreme Court of Liberia that denied the request of a writ of prohibition filed by former government officials, including Samuel D. Tweah, former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and other senior officials, in a major case involving alleged financial misconduct.

Accordingly,  upon  Weah recent return to Liberia, and having been briefed by his inner circle and cronies about the latest decision of the Supreme Court of Liberia to deny Tweah and his fellow indictees’ request of prohibition in the case, thus dashing their only hope of being vindicated from the criminal charges, a sinister plan is allegedly being hatched by the former President for a fake ‘presidential immunity’ letter to be drafted intended to support claims made by Tweah and his fellow indictees that their action to withdraw said amounts from the Central Bank of Liberia was based on National Security interest as is expected to soon to be crafted in the ‘fake presidential immunity letter’ for onward submission to the Criminal Court ‘C’ through their defense team, now that the Supreme Court has ordered that the case should continue at the lower court following the rejection of the writ of prohibition.

The source also hinted the former President and his team are disappointed in the recent verdict of the Supreme Court of Liberia, a decision they can disagree with but cannot challenge in the court of law, and thus they have begun to strategize how to counter and find a remedy to the dilemma former Minister Tweah and his fellow indictees have found themselves. According to our sources, the fact that Tweah and his fellow indictees admitted in the court of law of actually withdrawing the monies in question by using national security and presidential immunity as an excuse, has automatically laid a foundation for their guilty verdict in the court of law. So, the only option they think they can explore is crafting a letter of authorization purportedly given to them by former President George Weah to withdraw said monies from the Central Bank of Liberia for whatever reason best known to them but eventually placed it on National Security related-issues.

Background

It can be recalled former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, alongside Cllr. Nyanti Tuan (former Acting Minister of Justice), Stanley S. Ford (former Director General of Financial Intelligence Agency), D. Moses P. Cooper (former Financial Intelligence Agency Comptroller), and Jefferson Karmoh (former National Security Advisor to President George Weah), were indicted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) on charges of Economic Sabotage, Theft, Illegal Disbursement and Expenditure of Public Funds, Criminal Conspiracy, Misuse of Public Money, and Criminal Facilitation.

The indictment alleges that the defendants violated the Financial Intelligence Agency Act of 2022 by conspiring to transfer US$500,000 and L$1,055,152,540 from the Central Bank of Liberia through the operational account of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).

Why Did Judge Wille Deny Motion to Dismiss Corruption Case Against Ex-Finance Minister Tweah and Others

It can be recalled Criminal Court ‘C’ assigned Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie denied a motion to dismiss the high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and four other co-defendants. The court ruled at the time that the case must proceed, rejecting the defense’s argument that the court lacks jurisdiction.

In his ruling, Judge Willie emphasized that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), through the Ministry of Justice, alleged that the defendants acted outside the privileges afforded to agents of the President under Article 61 of the 1986 Constitution. As a result, they cannot claim immunity and must stand trial.

Court Rejects National Security Immunity Argument

One of the key arguments raised by the defense was that the defendants, as members of the National Security Reform Intelligence (NSRI), were immune from prosecution for financial transactions. However, Judge Willie dismissed this claim, stating that the NSRI Act itself contains provisions requiring financial accountability.

Citing Section 7(c) of the NSRI Act, the judge pointed out that the law explicitly states, “This provision does not exempt (NSRI members) from legally mandated accountings within the Government of Liberia.” He further clarified that while NSRI members may handle classified funds, any financial transactions outside of vital national security interests are subject to legal scrutiny.

Judge Willie also referenced Section 11(d) of the NSRI Act, which states that funds allocated to the NSRI may only be exempt from financial regulations if used strictly for national security purposes. He noted that the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) Act of 2022 provides additional legal boundaries, stating that officials cannot claim immunity in cases of gross negligence, corruption, or intentional wrongdoing.

“We therefore wonder, how come the Defendants/Movants are relying on this same Act and saying that they are immune to all actions—especially financial transactions—even when there are warnings in both Acts (NSRI and FIA) against such conduct?” Judge Willie questioned.

Presidential Immunity Claim Rejected

The court also rejected the defense’s attempt to invoke presidential immunity under Article 61 of the Constitution. The defendants argued that since former President George Manneh Weah chaired the NSRI and they acted under his directives, they should be immune from prosecution.

However, Judge Willie ruled that Article 61 only grants immunity to the President during his tenure and does not extend blanket protection to officials acting under his authority. He added that even the President is subject to prosecution upon leaving office if he is accused of criminal acts.

“The President shall be immune from any suits, actions, or proceedings, judicial or otherwise… However, the President shall not be immune from prosecution upon removal from office for the commission of any criminal act,” Judge Willie said as he quoted from the Constitution.

Alleged Illegal Transfer of Funds

According to the indictment, between September 8 and 21, 2023, former Finance Minister Tweah allegedly authorized the transfer of L$1,055,152,540 and US$500,000 to the operational accounts of the FIA without proper authorization. The prosecution contends that the transfers were not requested by the National Security Council, the National Joint Security, or the FIA itself.

The indictment further alleges that Tweah conspired with then-Acting Justice Minister Nyenati Tuan to facilitate the transfer, which remains unaccounted for.

Trial to Proceed Pending Possible Appeal

With the motion to dismiss denied, the prosecution was set to present its case. However, the defense excepted to the ruling, signaling a possible appeal to the Supreme Court. The Defense later appealed to the Supreme Court and after a lengthy spell in legal arguments at the High Court, a decision was made to deny Tweah and others the writ of prohibition that they had filed to dismiss the case on claims of presidential immunity covered their action to withdraw the said monies from the Central Bank of Liberia.

 Supreme Court Denies Writ of Prohibition in High-Profile Financial Misconduct Case

And so, the Supreme Court of Liberia in mid December 2025, denied a writ of prohibition filed by former government officials, including Samuel D. Tweah, former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and other senior officials, in a major case involving alleged financial misconduct.

The petitioners had sought to halt proceedings in the First Judicial Circuit Criminal Assizes ‘C’ for Montserrado County, following the lower court’s rejection of their motion to dismiss charges. The Supreme Court had previously issued a stay on March 20, 2025, pending review of constitutional and legal questions raised by the defense.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court emphasized that statutory immunity applies only to those expressly named or co-opted by law or the President, and that any claim of immunity by other executive officials is illegal. The Court also clarified that ex-parte applications may be made under civil and criminal procedure laws without notice to the opposing party.

Consequently, the Supreme Court denied the petition, quashed the alternative writ, and remanded the case to the lower court to resume jurisdiction and proceed with the trial in accordance with the law. Costs were not awarded.

The ruling was signed by Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, and Associate Justices Yussif D. Kaba and Boakai N. Kanneh. Justices Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie and Ceaineh D. Clinton Johnson recused themselves due to family ties and prior involvement in the case.

This decision marks a significant ruling on executive immunity, the limits of statutory authority, and the enforcement of financial misconduct laws at the highest levels of government in Liberia.

What’s Next?

In keeping with the Supreme Court’s mandate and denial of the Writ of Prohibition of the Tweah and others vs, the Republic of Liberia case, where it instructed, the case should return to the lower court for adjudication to continue, legal luminaries have opined that with the defendants admitting in open court that they acted with presidential immunity covering them when they withdrew the monies from the Central Bank of Liberis, it only shows indeed that the criminal act was committed but the defendants were hoping that presidential immunity would cover them.

Legal luminaries and political pundits are baffled with the revelation that a sinister plan is allegedly in the making by the former President and his cronies to craft a fake ‘presidential immunity’ letter with the intent to present to the Criminal Court ‘C’ to support claims by former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and his fellow indictees that their action to transfer US$500,000 and L$1,055,152,540 from the Central Bank of Liberia through the operational account of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) was legitimate, and as members of the National Security Reform Intelligence (NSRI), they were immune from prosecution for financial transactions. However, Judge Willie dismissed this claim, stating that the NSRI Act itself contains provisions requiring financial accountability and that decision was recently supported by the Supreme Court of Liberia.

As the case is set to resume presumably during the February Term of Court, it remains to be seen whether Tweah and his fellow indictees defense team will want to tempt the Criminal Court ‘C’ with such an alleged planned fake presidential immunity letters that they intend to use to convince the court to clear their clients of the criminal charges filed against by the LACC for financial misconduct during the tenure of former President George Weah. Liberians are eager and will watch with eager eyes as the Tweah and others’ financial improprieties case is set to continue at the Criminal Court ‘C’, presumably during the February Term of Court in 2026.

Investigation continues

Photo credit The Liberian Post