Samuel Tweh Accuses Boakai Government of Judicial Interference, Slams Jewel Taylor’s Detention and Defies New Jury Trial

By: Contributing writer Melvin Vakum

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweh has launched a strong attack on the Boakai-Koung administration, accusing the government of interfering with the judicial system while describing the incarceration of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor as politically motivated.

Speaking Wednesday on a local radio station in Monrovia, Tweh criticized the charges brought against Howard-Taylor in connection with the recent drug investigation, describing the case as “bogus” and warning that the situation could damage Liberia’s national credibility and international image.

Tweh argued that the arrest and detention of the former Vice President have raised serious questions about the independence of the judiciary, claiming that the government’s actions appear to be directed at opposition figures, particularly Howard-Taylor.

“The charges against Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor are bogus,” Tweh maintained, arguing that the case against the former Vice President should be handled strictly according to the law and without what he described as political influence.

The former Finance Minister also warned about what he believes could be the long-term consequences of undermining the jury system, insisting that judicial decisions made today could affect the credibility and independence of Liberia's courts for generations to come.

“When CDC does stuff, it is one-off; it doesn't affect the next generation. The Boakai government is taking actions to affect five million people and the future of the country,” Tweh said. “When you undermine the jury system, you are affecting those who are not in court today.”

Tweh also compared the current situation with the impeachment of former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja'neh and allegations surrounding his own tenure in government, arguing that the actions of the previous CDC administration did not, in his view, carry the same potential consequences for the country's future.

Meanwhile, Tweh's comments come as supporters and members of the Congress for Democratic Change prepare to welcome former President George Manneh Weah at the Roberts International Airport, amid growing political tension and renewed calls for unity within the opposition.

As the political debate surrounding Howard-Taylor's detention continues, Tweh reaffirmed his party's commitment to pursuing justice through what he described as fair and lawful procedures, insisting that Liberia's judicial system must remain independent and protected from political interference.