JUSTICE MINISTER APOLOGIZES TO SENATE OVER SUBPOENA MIX-UP
Moses Papaye Gibson
Capitol Hill, Monrovia: Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, has formally apologized to the Liberian Senate following what he described as an inadvertent procedural misstep involving a subpoena issued against the legislative body.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petition on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Minister Tweh acknowledged that a writ of subpoena issued to the Senate was done without his authorization and in breach of established inter-branch protocols.
The Minister clarified that the decision stemmed from procedural errors by members of his legal team, whose actions he described as overzealous but ultimately inconsistent with proper legal and constitutional channels.
According to Minister Tweh, the writ of subpoena issued by Criminal Court “A” in connection with an audit report failed to take into account the necessary institutional procedures required when one branch of government seeks legal action involving another.
He stressed that the Ministry of Justice remains committed to due process and the preservation of harmonious working relations between the Executive and Legislative branches.
“The pathway taken did not reflect the appropriate inter-branch protocol,” Minister Tweh told lawmakers, noting that the subpoena was subsequently quashed under his directive once he was fully apprised of the matter.
The Attorney General assured Senators that corrective administrative measures would be implemented to prevent a recurrence of similar errors.
The controversy arose after government lawyers sought a writ of subpoena duces tecum before Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie. The writ aimed to compel senior officials of the Liberian Senate to produce key financial documents linked to an audit report that allegedly highlighted “unexplained gaps” in certain spending categories.
The requested documents reportedly included:
Bank records
Contracts and procurement documents
Payment vouchers and receipts
Records identifying officials connected to flagged transactions
The legal action was part of a broader investigation into financial discrepancies noted in the audit findings.
Minister Tweh reaffirmed his respect for the authority and independence of the Legislature, emphasizing that transparency and accountability must be pursued within the framework of constitutional order and mutual institutional respect.
He further assured members of the Senate that the Ministry of Justice remains steadfast in its responsibility to uphold the rule of law while safeguarding democratic governance principles.
The Senate Committee is expected to continue its review of the matter, while the Ministry undertakes internal administrative steps to address the lapse.
