Monrovia, Liberia – His Honor Roosevelt Z. Willie, Resident Judge First Judicial Circuit Criminal Assizes “A,” has been assigned by Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh to oversee the case involving former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh and others.
On a mandate from Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, presiding in Chambers, Judge Willie was appointed when His Honor A. Blamo Dixon, Resident Judge, First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “C,” recused himself from the matter.
The lawsuit included the Republic of Liberia, the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), former Minister Samuel D. Tweah (MFDP), former Acting Minister of Justice Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, and others.
Economic Sabotage, Misuse of Public Money or Record, Theft and/or Illegal Disbursement and Expenditure of Public Money, Section, and Criminal CoConspiracy are among the charges against former Minister Tweh, former Justice Minister Tuah, and others.
In a letter to Judge Willie, Chief Justice Yuoh directs him to concurrently preside over his existing assignments at the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “A” and Criminal Assizes “C,” with the express intent of hearing and rendering a decision in the aforementioned matter.
In light of this, Chief Justice Yuoh’s communication stated, “I hereby designate you to concurrently preside over your current assignment, at the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “A” and Criminal Assizes “C,” the latter, for the exclusive purpose of hearing and rendering a decision on the aforementioned captioned case.”
on January 25, 2025, Justice in Chambers Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay of the Supreme Court ordered Criminal Assizes “C” Resident Judge A. Blamo Dixon to recuse himself from overseeing this well-known criminal case involving former George Weah administration officials.
In his decision, Justice Gbeisay highlighted the importance of impartiality and openness in the legal system, emphasizing that all parties involved in a dispute, including the state, have the right to a fair trial before an impartial judge. Prosecutors claimed that a number of actions by Judge Dixon showed prejudice, which sparked the debate over his impartiality.
The prosecution submitted a motion in December 2024 expressing concerns about Judge Dixon’s actions, especially his statements made in public that the outcome of the trial would compromise the prosecution’s case. Judge Willie is set to preside over the resumption of this much awaited high-profile trial in the upcoming weeks.
