Samuel Tweah response to LNP summons

Nyeswa and other auditors died when mounting public pressures mounted against the erstwhile Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government of former President George Manneh Weah over alleged public corruption.

Monrovia, July 24, 2024: Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, listed as a police person of interest in a reopened investigation of Barthan Nyeswa’s death, has welcomed the investigation and vowed to cooperate.

“We welcome police investigation under a new Government to independently re-establish facts in the death of our dear friend and brother Barthan Nyeswa, among other deaths that were politically weaponized!” Tweah wrote.

Police authorities in Monrovia reopened investigations into circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Barthan Nyeswa, nearly four years after the top auditor official’s brutal death at home.

The Police have summoned Mr. Tweah, former National Port Authority boss Bill Tweaheay, now River Cess Senator, former Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, and others as part of the renewed investigation.

Three other auditors—Albert Peters and Giftee Lama, all from the Liberia Revenue Authority, and Mr. George Fanbutu, an external auditor—predeceased Mr. Nyeswa a little over a week before his death in October 2020.

Liberians were still grieving the deaths of the three auditors when the nation was hit by the tragic death news of Mr. Nyeswa at his residence.

These deaths occurred at a time when there were mounting public pressures against the erstwhile Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government of former President George Manneh Weah over alleged public corruption.

Following Nyeswa’s death, there were reports that he had been at an entertainment center in Congo Town with friends that night before returning home and died later.

The past regime led by the CDC did not bring any criminal charges against any suspect following the deaths of the auditors, but the new administration has now reopened the case.

Mr. Tweah issued a statement following the police announcement via his social media, vowing to cooperate with investigators.

In his statement, he described receiving a call from his brother, Cllr. Last Friday, Norris Tweah informed him that the police were interested in speaking with persons who were friends with Barthan.

He said Norris informed him that the police were interested in speaking with people who may have been observed with Barthan on the evening before his tragic incident.

He added that he had been informed that the police wanted to speak with people seen at Barthan’s house or who may have visited the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital where the deceased had been taken.

“Norris stated he had already spoken with the police and encouraged me to do the same,” he said.

“On the morning of the incident, upon receiving a call from my brother Norris reporting the incident, I had called Dr. [Wilhelmina] Jallah, the Government’s chief medical official, and Mr. Bill Twehway, another close friend of Barthan, to report the incident and that we were all headed at the JFK where Norris had taken Barthan,” Mr. Tweah noted.

Upon speaking to the police, he said he would release publicly the information that he would avail.

“I welcome this moment of authentic truth-telling and fact-finding so that the demons of lies, duplicity, and propaganda that have long harried our people over the last six years for political purposes can hopefully and finally be exorcised and laid to rest!” he added.

On Tuesday, the Liberia National Police (LNP) said it is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the death of Mr. Emmanuel Barthan Nyeswa.

“We have invited several individuals who may have relevant information to assist in our ongoing inquiries. We urge anyone with additional information to come forward to aid our investigation,” the police said.