“It Was Legal” – Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news

Monrovia, Liberia — April 20, 2026: Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. took the witness stand Monday and launched a detailed courtroom challenge to the state’s case, as the court ordered the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Governor to appear and authenticate defense documents linked to the alleged “direct transfers” now under trial.

The order followed a defense request for a subpoena, opposed by prosecutors, seeking to validate photocopied instructions already in evidence, a move the defense says could undermine the prosecution’s narrative about whether the transfers were authorized and lawful.

Under direct examination by lead counsel Arthur Johnson, Tweah structured his testimony around “six observations” from the indictment, arguing the charges rest on contested facts and a narrow reading of Liberia’s public-finance rules.

Tweah, facing possible imprisonment if convicted, addressed four claims in the indictment: that no request originated from national security actors; that he lacked lawful authority; that transfers through the Central Bank were illegal; and that he conspired with former Acting Justice Minister Nyanti Tuan.

Citing his former role on the National Security Council and Liberia’s Public Financial Management (PFM) framework, he argued the Finance Ministry’s authority in emergencies and national-interest spending is broader than prosecutors contend.

At the center of the dispute is what legally “triggers” the release of public funds, particularly the prosecution’s emphasis on whether a written request exists.

Tweah explained that for budgeted expenditures, the legal trigger is passage of the national budget, not a separate payment request.

For non-budgeted or emergency spending, he said the trigger is government consensus driven by urgency, which may not always be accompanied by formal documentation.

He argued that documentation practices vary by circumstance and that prosecutors are wrongly treating missing paperwork as proof of illegality.

To buttress his argument, Tweah pointed to earlier government transactions processed through the CBL using pathways similar to those of the transfers now under prosecution.

He referenced over US$15 million to the National Elections Commission; US$25 million to the World Food Program for COVID-19 food support; and US$1 million to UNFPA for the 2022 National Census, arguing the method was not unusual, but consistent with established practice.

The defense maintains the payments reflect routine government processing rather than an anomaly.

When the defense asked the court to subpoena the CBL Governor to authenticate instructions underlying the transfers, prosecutors objected, arguing the request was irrelevant.

Presiding Judge Feika overruled the objection and ordered the subpoena issued. The Governor, or a designated representative, is expected to appear to confirm the authenticity of photocopied documents already admitted into evidence.

If authenticated, the documents could challenge testimony that such transfers never occurred and bolster the defense argument that the transactions were lawful under established fiscal practice.

Observers say the ruling puts fresh pressure on the prosecution’s narrative and raises the stakes for both sides as the trial turns on documents, procedures, and authority.

The court is expected to resume today (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m., with Tweah continuing his testimony.