By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia, Liberia: — Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, addressed the nation on Wednesday, framing the conclusion of the high-stakes Republic v. Samuel D. Tweah et al. trial as a pivotal moment for the rule of law, despite a jury verdict that saw the acquittal of the former Finance Minister.
Speaking from the Ministry of Justice, Tweh emphasized that while the legal outcome was mixed, the conviction of two top-tier former officials sends an “unmistakable message” that no one is above the law.
The Verdict Breakdown
Following weeks of testimony at Criminal Court “C,” the jury returned its findings on May 8, 2026, regarding the alleged misappropriation of over US$6 million (consisting of over LD1billionandUS500,000).
Convicted:
Cllr. Nyenati Tuan (Former Solicitor General/Acting Justice Minister): Found guilty of Theft of Property, Criminal Facilitation, and Criminal Conspiracy.
Jefferson Karmoh (Former National Security Advisor): Found guilty of Criminal Facilitation and Criminal Conspiracy.
Acquitted:
Samuel D. Tweah (Former Minister of Finance and Development Planning).
D. Moses P. Cooper (Former Comptroller of the FIA).
Hung Jury:
Stanley S. Ford (Former Director General of the FIA). The jury failed to reach the required threshold for a verdict in his case.
“Not Small Figures, Not Minor Victories”
Minister Tweh pushed back against critics who labeled the acquittal of Samuel Tweah as a failure for the government. He highlighted that convicting a former Solicitor General and a National Security Advisor—individuals at the heart of the country’s legal and security apparatus—is a historic achievement for Liberian justice.
“These are not small figures,” Tweh stated. “These convictions send a clear message: whether you sit in the Ministry of Justice or the Executive Mansion, if you betray the public trust, you will be investigated.”
A Shield Pierced: The National Security Argument
The Minister revealed that the trial nearly stalled before it began. The defendants had petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing they were immune from prosecution because they acted under presidential directives and that the funds were used for “classified national security operations.”
The Ministry of Justice successfully defeated this petition in the Supreme Court, establishing a landmark legal principle: National security secrecy cannot be used as a blanket to hide the disappearance of public funds.
Unaccounted Millions
Tweh detailed the evidence presented by the prosecution, led by Solicitor General Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah. The state argued that over LD$1 billion was withdrawn in cash by FIA Comptroller Moses Cooper between September and October 2023—with $500,000 being withdrawn the very same day it was transferred.
“Not a single receipt, not a single disbursement sheet… has ever been produced to show where the money went,” Tweh noted, adding that senior military and defense officials testified they had no knowledge of the “security operations” the defendants claimed to be funding.
The Path Forward
The legal battle is not yet over. The convicted defendants, Tuan and Karmoh, have filed a Motion for a New Trial, which the government is vigorously resisting. If the motion is denied, the court will proceed to sentencing.
Minister Tweh concluded by describing the fight against corruption as a “marathon,” promising a thorough internal review of the case to strengthen future prosecutions.
“The acquittal of two defendants is not a weakness of our system; it is its strength,” Tweh said. “An independent judiciary that acquits as well as convicts is the hallmark of a nation governed by law.”
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