Liberia: 'Legally Detrimental'

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a report by The New Dawn of Monrovia, reported on July 28, 2026, that Cllr. Arthur Tamba Johnson, lead lawyer for former Liberian Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., is urging Tweah to reconsider his stated refusal to challenge a lower court decision before the Supreme Court. Johnson said declining to seek review of the Criminal Court “C” ruling would be “legally detrimental” to his client.

The dispute follows a decision by Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika to set aside a jury’s not-guilty verdict in Tweah’s case and order a new trial. According to the report, the judge acted after findings of jury tampering and misconduct. Tweah responded in a July 21 Facebook post by rejecting any appeal or Supreme Court process, saying he considered the legal matter ended with the jury’s acquittal.

Johnson, however, said his duties as a member of the Supreme Court Bar require him to use lawful avenues to protect Tweah’s interests. He indicated that the defense team would try to persuade Tweah to allow them to pursue the legal options available. The lawyer also warned that failing to act on a decision he believes harms the client could create professional risks for the defense team.

The case matters because it places a high-profile former official’s criminal proceedings at the center of a broader debate over judicial authority, defendants’ choices, and lawyers’ ethical obligations. The New Dawn reported that Johnson had already excepted to the lower court’s ruling and initially announced an appeal, while also arguing that the judge lacked authority to recall jurors after discharge.