By Jamesetta D Williams
Monrovia-Acting Solicitor General, Cllr. Abraham Boimah Sillah, has said there is no specific trial date yet for the 20 individuals indicted in connection with the alleged US$317 million corruption case, as the Ministry of Justice prepares to petition the court to docket the matter.
Cllr. Sillah said the timing of the trial rests with the court, noting that the Ministry of Justice does not control the court’s docket. “We do not have a specific trial date at this time,” Cllr. Sillah said. “What we will do as the Ministry of Justice is make the appropriate application to the court to advance this case.”
He said the government is hopeful that the application will be accepted and that the case will proceed to trial as quickly as possible. According to Cllr. Sillah, the Montserrado County Grand Jury reviewed evidence presented by the government on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, following an application by the Ministry of Justice.
The Grand Jury subsequently returned an indictment against 20 individuals after determining that their alleged conduct was indictable under Liberian law.
The indictment, which was later unsealed, contains 11 counts and runs approximately 55 pages.
Cllr. Sillah said 15 of the defendants are Liberian nationals, while five are foreign nationals. Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is among those named in the indictment.
The Acting Solicitor General said several defendants have been arrested since the indictment was unsealed, while others remain at large.
He said at least five defendants are currently in custody, including two foreign nationals, while some Liberian defendants are being held at the Monrovia Central Prison.
Several other defendants, he said, turned themselves in on Wednesday.The government is continuing efforts to locate those who remain at large.
“We have put in place appropriate mechanisms to search for and locate anyone indicted within the borders of Liberia and beyond,” Cllr. Sillah said.
For defendants outside Liberia, he said the government would use appropriate bilateral mechanisms to seek their return to Liberia to face the court.
He urged members of the public with information about the whereabouts of any defendant to contact law enforcement instead of attempting to apprehend suspects themselves.
Cllr. Sillah also rejected concerns over the fact that the indictment and arrest warrants originated from Criminal Court “A,” while the case has been referred to Criminal Court “C.”
According to him, indictments are returned by the Grand Jury and issued before the appropriate resident circuit judge before being transmitted to the court with jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He said Criminal Court “A” appropriately issued the indictment and warrants, while Criminal Court “C” has jurisdiction to conduct the trial.
The Acting Solicitor General also explained the approximately 47-day period between the initial charges and the return of the indictment.
He attributed the delay to a change in leadership at the Ministry of Justice, saying the incoming leadership needed time to review the investigation before proceeding.
“We were not participants in the earlier stages of the investigation,” Cllr. Sillah said.
He said the new leadership reviewed the investigative documents, processes and evidence that informed the initial decision to charge the individuals.
Following the review, he said the Ministry concluded that the conduct of those named in the indictment was indictable.
The matter was subsequently presented to the Grand Jury, which agreed that the alleged conduct and roles of the defendants constituted indictable offenses.
Cllr. Sillah said the government expects the defendants to challenge the indictment through motions, appeals or other legal procedures available under Liberian law.
He said the Ministry of Justice is prepared to defend the indictment against any such challenges.We expect such challenges in the coming days,” he said.
He added that the government’s ultimate objective is to take the matter to trial.
The Acting Solicitor General strongly rejected claims that the prosecution is politically motivated.
He said the government’s position is based on evidence gathered during the investigation and not on political considerations.“The prosecution of this matter has absolutely nothing to do with politics,” Cllr. Sillah said.
He said the Ministry carefully reviewed the investigative materials and was satisfied that the evidence had been properly collected, preserved and maintained.
Cllr. Sillah, who identified himself as a professor of evidence law, said the government is confident that the evidence will meet the admissibility requirements of the court.
However, he declined to disclose details of the evidence, citing the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Cllr. Sillah also addressed questions concerning the allegation of criminal conspiracy, particularly its connection to the separate US$19.2 million drug case uncovered at Roberts International Airport.
He explained that criminal conspiracy does not necessarily require every accused person to physically participate in the final offense.
According to him, individuals may enter into an agreement separately and subsequently act pursuant to that agreement.
He said a person accused of conspiracy does not necessarily have to physically handle drugs or be present when an alleged offense is committed for the prosecution to establish conspiracy.
Cllr. Sillah reiterated that the Ministry cannot provide a specific timeline for the trial because the court controls its docket.
He said several criminal and corruption-related cases are already pending before the courts, making it inappropriate for the Ministry to promise a particular trial date.
“Our objective moving forward is to ensure that there is a speedy trial of this matter, as well as several other matters that are pending before the court,” he said.
The Acting Solicitor General also addressed concerns arising from the recent jailbreak in Gbarnga, Bong County.
He said the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia National Police and other security agencies are taking measures to strengthen security and prevent a recurrence.
He said the National Security Council is expected to conduct a threat assessment and advise the Ministry on appropriate security measures, particularly regarding defendants connected to ongoing investigations.
The Acting Solicitor General said the government’s immediate priorities are to locate and arrest defendants who remain at large, defend the indictment against legal challenges and ultimately take the case to trial.
The case now awaits docketing and further action by the court.The Ministry of Justice says it will continue providing information to the public while avoiding disclosure of details that could interfere with the judicial process.
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