Court Orders CBL Governor to Testify as Tweah Disputes Core Allegations in Economic Trial

Monrovia, Liberia: The trial involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah intensified Monday after the Criminal Court "C" at the Temple of Justice compelled the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Henry F. Saamoito, to appear and validate financial records introduced by the Defense—documents that now sit at the center of the case.

By: Emmanuel George

The decision followed a tense courtroom exchange, where prosecutors challenged the relevance of the Defense’s request.

However, the presiding judge Judge Ousman F. Feika ruled in favor of the Defense, signaling that the authenticity of the disputed transactions could play a decisive role in the outcome of the proceedings.

At the heart of the day’s hearing was Tweah’s own testimony, which shifted the narrative from alleged misconduct to what he described as a misinterpretation of public financial management practices by the Prosecution.

Taking the witness stand, Tweah pushed back against accusations that he authorized unlawful transfers, acted without proper authority, or engaged in a conspiracy with former Acting Justice Minister Nyanti Tuan under the CDC's regime.

Instead, he framed the contested transactions as routine government operations executed within the scope of approved national policy.

Tweah argued that once the national budget is passed, it empowers the Executive to carry out spending without requiring separate, transaction-specific requests.

He further emphasized that in matters involving national security or emergencies, decisions are often made collectively and may not always be accompanied by formal documentation. His assertion has directly undermined the Prosecution’s reliance on what it describes as procedural gaps.

To reinforce his defense, Tweah pointed to previous large-scale disbursements processed through the Central Bank of Liberia.

These include more than "US$15 million to the National Elections Commission, US$25 million to the World Food Programme for pandemic-related food aid, and US$1 million" to the United Nations Population Fund in support of the 2022 national census.

According to him, such transactions followed long-standing administrative practices, raising questions about why similar actions are now being criminalized.

The court’s decision to summon the CBL Governor introduces a new evidentiary phase in the trial, where official confirmation of these transactions could either strengthen the Defense’s argument or reinforce the Prosecution’s claims.

The ex-Finance Minister remains on the witness stand as proceedings continue, with the case expected to hinge increasingly on technical interpretations of fiscal authority and the credibility of institutional processes.