By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA — Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. has accused the Liberian government of political interference in the justice system, alleging that state actors are pressuring Judge Ousman Feika to overturn a jury verdict that had reportedly favored him in an ongoing drug and corruption-related case.
In a statement on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Tweah claimed that the administration is not fully focused on fighting drug trafficking and corruption, but is instead engaged in what he described as efforts to manipulate judicial outcomes against political opponents while protecting allies.
He alleged that there are currently no significant arrests in the broader drug-related investigation because attention has shifted toward influencing the court process in his case. According to him, the government is attempting to secure a reversal of a jury verdict despite what he described as a lack of evidence linking him, other defendants, or defense lawyers to allegations of jury misconduct.
Tweah further claimed that the presiding judge has privately indicated that he sees no evidentiary basis connecting the defendants to the alleged misconduct. However, he alleged that pressure is being applied on the court to identify legal grounds to set aside the verdict based on concerns involving jurors and alleged phone-related issues.
He also alleged that prosecution officials introduced or “planted phones” among jurors who voted against him, arguing that this development is being used as justification to challenge the integrity of the verdict. He maintained that jurors involved in the trial have denied any communication with defense lawyers or defendants during the proceedings.
Questioning the timing of the complaints, Tweah argued that concerns about juror conduct were not raised during the trial or before the verdict was delivered, suggesting instead that they emerged afterward as part of what he described as a “post-verdict strategy” to undermine the outcome.
The former minister also pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in the handling of similar cases, referencing former Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) boss Abdullah L. Kamara, where he alleged that jurors were not investigated despite similar circumstances. He suggested that political considerations influenced the difference in approach.
Tweah insisted that the jury’s decision in his favor reflects judicial independence, describing the nine-member jury as having “checkmated” efforts by the state. He further accused the government of attempting to overturn what he called a legitimate verdict, describing such efforts as an abuse of power and a threat to judicial fairness.
He went further to claim that the survival of the government depends on his conviction being secured, adding that he has already informed international observers about what he considers judicial misconduct.
Declaring confidence in his legal position, Tweah stated that he considers himself a free man and warned that any attempt to convict him would amount to political persecution. He also framed the case as a broader struggle between state power and individual rights, suggesting he is prepared for a prolonged legal and political confrontation.
Neither the Liberian government nor the Judiciary has issued an official response to the latest claims.
