By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia, Liberia: — The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has responded to the sudden departure of former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and his lead defense counsel, Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson, from its headquarters on Thursday morning, where they were scheduled to be questioned over the alleged misapplication of US$20.5 million.
Mr. Tweah and his legal representative appeared at the taskforce’s headquarters in Paynesville on May 21, 2026, following a rescheduled invitation. He is being investigated under allegations of economic sabotage, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, misapplication of funds, and criminal facilitation.
The probe centers on millions of dollars in state funds disbursed as rice subsidies between September 2021 and October 2022 through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Finance to artificially lower the price of rice on the Liberian market.
The Walkout
According to a press statement signed by AREPRT Public Relations Officer Joseph F. Daniels, Mr. Tweah’s legal team abruptly informed the Taskforce Chairman that they were leaving the premises. The defense team, led by Cllr. Arthur Tamba Johnson, cited concerns regarding “procedural arrangements” upon entering the compound.
Shortly after exiting the AREPRT offices, Cllr. Johnson, in a brief interaction with journalists outside the compound, stated that his client was being “disrespected” by authorities. This statement prompted the taskforce to push back against the narrative, emphasizing that standard rules apply to everyone.
“The institution maintains established procedures and administrative protocols that apply equally to all individuals invited to appear before the Taskforce, irrespective of status or position,” Joseph F. Daniels, Public Relations Officer at AREPRT, said. “These procedures are intended to ensure order, professionalism, fairness, and due process.”
Next Steps
The taskforce noted that the initial appearance had already been delayed once at the request of Tweah’s lawyers, an accommodation the institution granted in the spirit of institutional cooperation.
Emphasizing that its invitations are “not confrontational in nature” but rather a lawful opportunity for citizens to respond to allegations, the taskforce announced that it will issue a subsequent invitation to the former Finance Minister to ensure the investigation continues.
In concluding its statement, AREPT reaffirmed its commitment to conducting its mandates professionally and in strict accordance with the laws of Liberia, assuring the public that all parties will be accorded full due process.
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