By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
In a stunning twist to Liberia’s high-stakes US$20.5 million rice subsidy investigation, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and his defense counsel, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, abruptly walked out of proceedings, accusing the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) of “disrespect” and deliberate humiliation.
The confrontation unfolded when Tweah and his legal team arrived at AREPT headquarters for questioning. According to Cllr. Johnson, the former minister was relegated to a waiting room in what he described as an open, public space—an act he claimed was designed to diminish Tweah’s stature.
According to accounts from the scene, the former minister and his legal team had appeared before the Task Force in response to an invitation. However, after what sources described as a prolonged delay with no clear direction from the Chairman of the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, the two decided to leave the premises.
Cllr. Arthur Johnson reportedly expressed frustration over the manner in which his client was treated, arguing that Samuel Tweah deserved respect as a former senior government official who once served the country at the highest level of economic governance.
“He served this country and should be treated with dignity and respect,” Cllr Arthur Johnson stated.
The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny and investigations involving officials of the former administration, as the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force continues efforts to probe alleged misuse and recovery of state assets.
“They put us somewhere in a sitting room to diminish us right in the open space. When you are calling a party or a former official for investigation, you must give deference and respect. You don’t treat us like you are not prepared for us. You cannot keep us sitting or waiting in the hallway. It’s an attempt to demoralize the former Finance Minister. So, we are going back. If the chairman is ready, he will write us back or call us again,” Johnson declared.
The defense lawyer insisted that Tweah, as a former finance minister of the Republic, deserved dignified treatment. “Inviting us and keeping us sitting in some waiting room for hours is totally unacceptable. We are ready anytime they call us, but for now, we are leaving,” Johnson added, visibly frustrated.
But AREPT officials quickly pushed back, offering a sharply different account. Public Relations Officer Joseph Daniels told reporters that Tweah and his entourage arrived late—nearly 22 minutes past the scheduled 10:00 a.m. start time—and refused to follow standard security protocols.
“Usually, when you go to an institution, there are protocols. All those who enter are required to sign in at the receptionist desk. While that process was going on, they decided to leave on grounds that their time was being wasted. We expected them to follow the process, but they insisted on going straight to the investigation room,” Daniels explained.
Daniels further noted that Tweah had already missed an earlier scheduled appearance on May 19, only to reschedule for May 21. “It is quite unfortunate for such a situation to happen when we expect a very transparent and smooth process. Taking your time coming for investigation is what we all should embrace as citizens,” he added.
The walkout has injected fresh drama into an already politically charged probe. The rice subsidy case, involving tens of millions of dollars, has gripped national attention, with AREPT vowing to pursue accountability and recover assets allegedly mismanaged under Tweah’s tenure.
Observers say the clash underscores the tension between Liberia’s drive for transparency and the entrenched culture of deference to former officials. For now, Tweah’s fate in the investigation remains uncertain, as AREPT weighs its next move following the dramatic exit.
