MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Political Leader of the Liberian National Union (LINU), Dr. Clarence K. Moniba, has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to directly address the Liberian people over the country’s widening drug crisis and provide greater clarity on the government’s ongoing investigations into alleged narcotics trafficking.
Dr. Moniba’s appeal comes amid the government’s announcement of criminal charges against former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and several other Liberian and foreign nationals in connection with investigations that have increasingly become a major national issue.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, the LINU political leader said the government’s fight against illegal drugs must be pursued within the framework of due process, impartiality and the rule of law.
“This is not a defense of Madam Howard-Taylor or an attempt to excuse anyone who may have participated in criminal activity,” Dr. Moniba said. “If any person is found guilty of drug trafficking or related crimes, that person must be held fully accountable under the law. But accusations are not convictions.”
According to Moniba, the seriousness of the allegations makes it even more important for the government to ensure that investigations are conducted professionally and that cases brought before the courts are supported by credible and admissible evidence.
He said every person accused of a crime is entitled to a free, fair and impartial trial, regardless of political status, public office, institutional affiliation or public opinion surrounding the case.
Dr. Moniba is urging President Boakai to take direct national leadership of the issue by speaking to citizens about the progress of the investigations and assuring the public that the cases will be pursued to their lawful conclusions.
He said the President’s intervention is necessary to reassure Liberians that the government’s campaign against narcotics will not be influenced by political relationships, institutional interests or the status of individuals under investigation.
Moniba specifically called for the President to make clear that no person or institution will be placed above the law.
He further proposed the establishment of an independent three-person panel composed of credible Liberians to review the progress and handling of ongoing investigations involving current and former members of the country’s security and law-enforcement institutions.
The proposed panel, according to Moniba, would not replace the courts or interfere with criminal prosecutions.
Instead, it would have a limited mandate to determine whether investigations are being conducted professionally and independently and whether authorities are applying the same degree of urgency and seriousness across related cases.
He also called for the findings of such a panel to be made public.
The LINU leader said the current drug investigation is unprecedented in its scale and seriousness, with potential consequences extending beyond individual criminal cases.
He argued that the controversy now touches on Liberia’s justice system, national security, international reputation and the future of young Liberians.
Moniba also raised concerns about the fate of other high-profile investigations in Liberia, including the investigation into the arson incident and major corruption cases that have generated public interest but, in his view, have not always resulted in clear and satisfactory conclusions.
He said those experiences should compel the government to demonstrate that the current drug investigations will not become another set of unresolved cases.
“The government must demonstrate its ability to bring important investigations and prosecutions to their lawful conclusions,” he maintained.
He also expressed concern about unanswered questions surrounding investigations involving individuals connected to the Liberia National Police, National Security Agency, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency and airport security.
Moniba said Liberians deserve to know which investigations have been completed, which individuals have been formally charged and which cases remain active.
The former presidential candidate said Liberia’s fight against narcotics must be governed by what he described as “one standard of justice.”
“This is not an argument for protecting anyone. It is an argument for one standard of justice,” Moniba said.
He insisted that current and former government officials, security officers, politically connected individuals and ordinary citizens should all be subjected to the same legal standards.
According to him, institutional connections, political influence or public office should never be used to shield anyone from investigation or prosecution where credible evidence exists.
At the same time, he warned that the government must avoid treating allegations as established facts before a competent court has determined the guilt or innocence of an accused person.
Moniba concluded his statement by calling for a balance between accountability and constitutional protections as Liberia confronts what he described as a critical moment in the country’s fight against drugs.
“The accused deserve due process. The Liberian people deserve the truth. And at this critical moment, the country deserves to hear directly from its President,” he said.
He further warned that Liberia’s handling of the investigations is being closely watched both domestically and internationally.
“Liberia is watching. The world is watching us. Justice must not be selective. Justice must not be delayed. And justice must not be abandoned before the truth is established,” Moniba declared.
