The Panoramic Justice Group, based in Washington, D.C., has once again urged United States Congressman Chris Smith to hold a hearing about the visa restrictions affecting Judge Roosevelt Willie. They are also pushing for the legal status of several officials to be revoked and for sanctions to be imposed on them. This list includes National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods, Justice Minister Oswald Tweh, Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah, Montserrado County Attorney Richard Scott, Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman, Deputy Inspector General Simeon Frank, and Chief Investigator Raphael Wilson from the Liberia National Police.
This U.S.-based organization is calling for accountability due to these individuals’ significant interference in the justice system, which includes allegations of arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture, cruel or degrading treatment, bribery, and arbitrary arrests or detentions, as highlighted in the U.S. State Department’s Human Rights report on Liberia.
Judge Roosevelt Willie is facing repeated accusations of compromising justice due to alleged bribe-taking. He’s been reluctant to release six defendants who are behind bars in connection with the December 2024 arson attack on the Capitol Building, even though he initially signed off on a $500,000 property bond. The defendants—Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, Stephen Broh, and Gabriel Fansieh—are up against some serious felony charges, including arson, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms.
This sudden shift in the judge’s stance has heightened allegations of interference involving Atty Samuel Kofi Woods, the National Security Advisor to President Joseph Boakai. The defense team and the families of the defendants are convinced that outside forces are influencing Judge Willie’s decisions. Atty Woods, despite his high-ranking position, doesn’t have any background in law enforcement, military, or security science, and his office operates on an annual budget of $300,000. Alongside Woods, Minister of Justice Oswald Tweh and Inspector General Gregory Coleman are also facing accusations of torturing Andrew Lawson and Albert Weah, who are currently on trial for their alleged involvement in the Capitol arson attack.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman has faced accusations of weaponizing the Liberia National Police into a brutal tool of political oppression, orchestrating the harassment and violent suppression of peaceful protesters and vulnerable workers through the enforcement of illegal regulations and under his command, law enforcement officers have perpetrated daily abuses against civilians, culminating in the tragic murder of three protesters in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County—an atrocity that underscores the grave threat his leadership poses to Liberia’s fragile democracy, public safety, and rule of law.
In January 2025, Bai S.G. Best, the Managing Director of Daily Observer, along with reporter David A. Yates, faced threats, detention, and coercion from the Liberia National Police (LNP) due to their coverage of the death of Anwar Futloo, the General Manager of Boulevard Palace Hotel. They were “invited” to the LNP headquarters by Deputy Inspector General Simeon Frank, who warned them of arrest if they didn’t comply. While detained, Yates was marked as a “person of interest” and later as a “suspect” without any clear explanation, raising serious concerns about potential entrapment.
The actions of the LNP ignited outrage among media professionals and civil society advocates, who view this as a clear abuse of power and a direct attack on press freedom. Best and Yates are calling for accountability, including a written apology and guarantees that such treatment won’t happen again. Unfortunately, the Inspector General’s office has yet to respond, leaving the journalists in a state of uncertainty. The Press Union of Liberia has condemned the LNP’s behavior and is urging the Justice Ministry and police leadership to put an end to this intimidation.
In August 2022, the Monrovia City Court issued a subpoena for Chief Investigator Raphael Wilson of the Liberia National Police to testify in the murder trial of former Executive Protection Service (EPS) Agent Patrick Kollie. Kollie is accused of killing Valentine Johnson, who was shot while riding a bike with friends. The court’s decision to subpoena Wilson came after a request from the state prosecutor to confirm the validity of the charge sheet. Wilson is expected to appear in court to verify the authenticity of the charge sheet.
The US State Department’s 2024 Human Rights reports on Liberia shed light on several major human rights concerns, such as credible allegations of arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture or cruel and degrading treatment, arbitrary arrests or detentions, and significant limitations on freedom of expression and media. This includes violence or threats against journalists and instances of censorship. Other issues highlighted were human trafficking and systematic restrictions on workers’ rights to associate freely.
The report also mentioned multiple instances where the government or its agents were implicated in arbitrary or unlawful killings throughout the year. For example, in May, the Bureau of Rehabilitation and Corrections officially charged six officers in connection with the death of an inmate at the Fish Town Central Prison in April. This incident sparked community outrage, leading to vandalism at the prison and the escape of some inmates. According to the prison bureau, several corrections officers were involved in facilitating the jailbreak and were being investigated by the Liberia National Police (LNP). Out of the six officers, four were cleared of any misconduct, one was dismissed for not cooperating with the investigation, and one is still under investigation.
Garkpe Gedepoh, U.S. Marine (Rtd), the Executive Director of the Panoramic Justice Group, is urging the Liberian government to seriously consider the implications of the U.S. State Department reports and to take immediate action on the issues raised. The Panoramic Justice Group is calling on the U.S. government to impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on the Liberian officials involved and to reassess Liberia’s eligibility under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact due to these serious human rights violations and corruption. Dr. Gedepoh firmly believes that the ongoing culture of impunity in Liberia can only be tackled if officials are held accountable.
Even Liberia’s own Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has voiced serious concerns about the rising tide of human rights violations in the country. Their 2024 Annual Human Rights Situation Report reveals a troubling increase in abuses, such as state security brutality, prolonged pretrial detention, rape, and gender-based violence. Cllr. Dempster Brown, the commission’s chairperson, pointed out that these issues have made it even harder for many Liberians to access justice.
The report notes that Liberia’s judicial system is plagued by inefficiencies, including prolonged pretrial detention, denial of due process, and harsh prison conditions. Many individuals are held in detention for extended periods without trial, contributing to overcrowding in Liberia’s prisons. Poor record-keeping in prisons and police stations, coupled with manual processes, exacerbates the situation.
The Liberia National Police has faced criticism for using excessive force against civilians, resulting in severe bodily harm or death. The INCHR has condemned the LNP’s brutality and lack of accountability, citing numerous reports of excessive force that have eroded public trust in the security apparatus. In one incident, a 17-year-old student was fatally shot by an LNP officer in Paynesville, Monrovia.
The commission emphasizes the need for comprehensive training programs to boost professionalism within the justice system. The lack of capacity and resources has hindered the system’s ability to deliver justice, leading to a growing distrust in the country’s ability to protect human rights.
