—Bows to Court’s Jurisdiction

IPNEWS: On Wednesday, September 25, former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, turned himself over after being indicted by Criminal Court ‘C’ for the alleged crime of looting the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) of millions of United States dollars, after a subsequent indictment of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).

With Pretty smiles, former Minister Tweah, now defendant, spent nearly 20 minutes on the prisoner’s bench, as his lead Counsel Cllr. Authur Johnson and Cllr James Kumeh, veteran criminal defense lawyer whose clients have included the defendants in the US$100 million cocaine case, roamed the court seeking their client release.

Surrounded by sympathizers, mainly members of his Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), crowding the courtroom, surrendered to the court amidst series of condemnation and rejection of charges on social media.

Following at least 20 minutes of arguments by persecution and defense counsels, Defendant Samuel Tweah, was granted the criminal appearance bond Judge Blamo Dixon, presiding Judge, Criminal Court ‘C’.

Now, sources tell the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, that a second indictment may just be at the doorsteps of the former Minister, after failing to attend a summons by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation related to the death of Emmanuel Barthan Nyeswa, the former Director General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).

Insiders tell the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper that all those summoned by the police, including Mr. Bill Twehway, Senator, Rivercess County (former Managing director of the National Port Authority); Madam Wilhelmina Jallah former Minister of Health and Mr. Teakon Williams, cooperated with the Police investigation.

However, former Finance Minister Tweah, stated on social media that “Upon speaking to the police, I will release publicly the information I 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 exorcized and laid to rest! “Thanks for your understanding!” The former Minister Tweah wrote.

In July 2024, the Cold Case Unit (CCU) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) launched a fresh investigation into the 2020 death of Emmanuel Barthan Nyeswa, the former Director General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).

Speculations have long persisted that the Weah administration masterminded the death of Nyeswa. However, the administration at the time denied any involvement with the incident.

Previous probes into Nyeswa’s mysterious death failed to bring to light conclusive evidence of who may have been involved.

LNP Inspector General, Col. Gregory Coleman, said on Tuesday that several former senior officials, whom he described as ‘Persons of Interest’, were seen at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center the night Nyeswa was rushed there.

It was reported that Nyeswa fell from the upper floor of his two-storey residence located along the SKD Boulevard, Paynesville City, after he had returned from a social outing by 2 a.m.

Col. Coleman, at the press conference, named Mr. Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., former Minister of Finance and Development Planning; Mr. Bill Twehway, Senator, Rivercess County (former Managing director of the National Port Authority); Madam  Wilhelmina Jallah former Minister of Health and Mr. Teakon Williams.

Names of people who have appeared before the investigation, include: Cllr. Norris Tweah, brother of former Finance Minister Tweah; Mr. Gibson H. Tumbay; Mr. Robert S. M. Ketter; and Mr. Musa Sesay.

Others were: Ms. Hawa Mienwipia, Ms. Florence Zeanboan; Mr. Joe Tokpah and Mr. John Flomo.

Immediately after Nyeswa’s mysterious death, the Minister of Information at the time, Mr. Ledgerhood Rennie, announced via a press release on October 10, 2020, the Liberian government’s utter shock and sadness the passing of the head of the country’s Internal Audit Agency, Mr. Emmanuel B. Nyeswa.

Mr. Nyeswa, according to Rennie, “is reported to have died at his home in the early hours of Saturday, October 10, 2020.”

According to Rennie’s release, earlier reports said he dropped and fell from the first floor of his residence in the SKD Boulevard community after returning home by 2 a.m. GMT.

“Details of the cause of the death of the IAA Boss are scanty,” Rennie’s release said at the time.

However, the release noted, “the Government of Liberia assures the public that once further details are established, it will be made known.”

“The Government of Liberia meanwhile sends its deepest sympathy to the family of the bereaved, while also urging the general public to refrain from speculations that could be the source of additional trauma for the families,” said Rennie’s release at the time.

According to Rennie, Nyeswa was a long time professional auditor and previously served as Deputy Director General of the IAA before his appointment in 2018 by President George M. Weah to head the Agency.

In response to the re-opening of the investigation into Nyeswa’s death, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. said he welcomes 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!

“Last Friday, I received a call from my brother Cllr Norris Tweah, who informed me that the police were interested in speaking with persons who were either friends with  Barthan, who may have been observed with him on the evening prior to his tragic incident, seen at his house or who may have visited the JFK Memorial hospital where he had been taken. Norris stated he had already spoken with the police and encouraged me to do the same.

“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  Barthan had been taken by Norris.