Monrovia, Liberia – Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court C has been instructed to resign from his position as the judge overseeing the economic sabotage case involving Former Minister Tweah and the Government of Liberia by Justice Yamie Quiqui Gberisay, Justice in Chamber of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
“This Court is of the opinion that the judge should recuse himself from the trial of the case in the interest of transparency and justice.” Judge Gberisay made the decision.
Economic sabotage, fraud, and criminal conspiracy were among the charges brought against former President George Weah’s cabinet members. Following a writ of certiorari granted by the Supreme Court of Liberia to state prosecutors in the case against presiding Judge Blamo Dixon, the Chamber Justice order was issued.
“Criminal Court “C” is directed by this writ to forward all pertinent papers to the Supreme Court for examination. Prosecutors petitioned Judge A. Blamo Dixon on December 23, 2024, for refusing to exempt himself from the case for a second time. They claim that since the beginning of the case, Judge Dixon has exhibited prejudice.
At the hearing, defense attorneys argued that the petitioner had no legitimate reason to have the judge recuse himself. They argued that in Liberia, there are several statutory or legal reasons set forth by the Supreme Court for recusal, including proved blood ties and a manifest conflict of interest.
However, in order to maintain the integrity of the trial and the court, Justice Gberisay said that a judge must withdraw himself if, in the opinion of one of the parties, he no longer seems impartial and fair based on remarks and acts that are documented.
“Every Party litigant, including the state in criminal cases, is entitled to nothing less than the cold neutrality of an impartial judge,” said Justice Gberisay, citing the Court’s long-standing precedent. A judge may be challenged if he is biased or otherwise unable to hear a matter; if the challenge is upheld, the case may be transferred to a different court or heard before another judge.”
When asked if the trial judge erred in rejecting the petitioner’s move for recusal, Justice Gberisay agreed with the petitioner’s claim that the judge’s conduct were prejudiced and biased. He cited a particular case in which the court expressed doubt about co-defendant Samuel D. Tweah Jr.’s confinement at Monrovia Central Prison, implying that it would not be advantageous to the prosecution’s strategy.
A number of reasons for recusal were raised by the prosecution, including improper behavior, conflict of interest, and prejudice. In the continuing trials involving Tweah and others, Judge Dixon has refuted these accusations, claiming that he has not transgressed any judicial norms.
Along with four former officials from the Weah-led administration, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweh, who had previously been sanctioned by the United States for corruption, was indicted in July 2024 on charges of economic sabotage, unlawful disbursement and expenditure of public funds, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses.
Stanley S. Ford, a former director general of the Financial Intelligence Agency; D. Moses Cooper, a former controller general of the Financial Intelligence Agency; Jefferson Karmoh, a former national security advisor to President George Weah; and former solicitor general Nyanti Tuan are among the co-defendants.
