By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Former Vice President for Technical Services at the National Oil Company of Liberia, Dr. Lester Z. Tenny, has stirred fresh political controversy with explosive claims that former President George Weah may be the “true mastermind” behind the ongoing legal troubles confronting former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah.
Tenny, once considered a prominent stalwart of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, made the allegations in a strongly worded public statement in which he argued that the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has no political interest in persecuting Tweah despite widespread public perception surrounding the former minister’s prosecution.
According to Tenny, President Boakai’s mission is focused on reforming Liberia and ensuring that the country’s resources benefit ordinary citizens fairly rather than pursuing political vendettas against opponents. “JNB has no interest in targeting any Liberian,” Tenny wrote. “His vision is to reset a country greatly abused by state actors. He has no tendency of witch hunting anybody.”
Drawing from what he described as years of close interaction with Boakai, Tenny insisted that the assumption that the ruling Unity Party is deliberately targeting Samuel Tweah does not align with the current political reality. He argued that Tweah, popularly known as “D12,” no longer poses a major electoral threat to the ruling establishment due to changing political circumstances within Liberia.
Tenny instead turned his criticism toward former President Weah, claiming that Tweah’s growing influence has long been viewed internally as a threat to Weah’s political dominance within the CDC. “A freed Tweah poses a significant threat to George Weah,” Tenny asserted, adding that Weah has historically shown discomfort toward powerful figures emerging within his political camp.
In an apparent attempt to support his argument, Tenny referenced several high-profile figures within the CDC whom he claimed either fell out with Weah or were politically sidelined. Among them were House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, Representative Thomas Fallah, former Minister Saah Joseph, and outspoken lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah. Tenny suggested these developments reflected what he described as Weah’s intolerance for perceived competition within his political circle.
“The beautiful part is no secret in this country,” Tenny declared. “One day we will all know that Weah is the true mastermind behind the conviction of Tweah.” He further suggested that even the possibility of a retrial could allegedly benefit the former president politically because a jailed Tweah would represent “one less headache” for Weah ahead of future political calculations.
Tenny also described Weah as “a witty contriver,” claiming that Samuel Tweah’s current predicament stemmed from efforts to satisfy what he termed the “insatiable appetite” of a former leader determined to maintain political control. The remarks have since triggered intense debate across political circles and social media platforms, especially given Tenny’s former proximity to both the CDC and key figures in the Weah administration.
The comments come amid lingering controversy surrounding Tweah’s recent acquittal in the high-profile economic sabotage case involving approximately US$6.2 million. On Friday, May 8, 2026, jurors at Criminal Court “C” found Tweah not guilty on all charges. However, the case remains clouded by allegations of jury tampering after some jurors reportedly accused colleagues of accepting money to influence the verdict in Tweah’s favor.
Despite his acquittal in the economic sabotage trial, Tweah’s legal challenges are far from over. He is currently under investigation by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force over his alleged connection to the reported misuse of approximately US$20.5 million earmarked for Liberia’s rice subsidy program between 2021 and 2022 during the administration of former President George Weah.
