–ANC Political Leader Says Evidence Must Be Followed ‘Wherever It Leads,’ Calls for Independent Probe Into Liberia’s Drug Crisis
MONROVIA, Liberia — Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Benedict Cummings, has renewed his call for speedy, fair and non-selective justice in the ongoing narcotics investigation involving former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, saying every person linked to the case must be subjected to the same legal standard.
Cummings spoke Sunday after visiting Howard-Taylor at the Monrovia Central Prison, where she is being detained in connection with the investigation.
He said the visit was personal, explaining that Howard-Taylor is a longtime friend whom he regards as his “small sister.”
“I came this afternoon to visit the former vice president, Jewel Howard Taylor,” Cummings said. “The former Vice President is a friend, I call her my small sister. And I came to empathize with her, to check on her circumstances and situation.”
But after the private visit, Cummings used his interaction with journalists to issue a broader appeal for the government to ensure that the drug investigation is conducted independently and that justice is applied equally to everyone implicated by credible evidence.
‘Justice Needs to Be Speedy’
Cummings acknowledged the constitutional principle that accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty but said that presumption must be accompanied by an efficient judicial process.
“One is, of course, they make a precept that innocents until proven guilty, so there is a presumption of innocence,” he said. “That the evidence is to be followed wherever it leads. But that justice needs to be speedy.”
He invoked the familiar warning that “justice delayed is justice denied,” arguing that the narcotics case should not be allowed to languish indefinitely.
Cummings also accused the government of creating an appearance of selective justice.
“It appears that justice is being selectively prescribed,” he said.
Questions ‘Big Shots’ Allegedly Implicated
Cummings’ strongest criticism centered on what he said was the apparent disparity in the treatment of people allegedly connected to the broader investigation.
He recalled that the Inspector General of Police had previously spoken publicly about “big shots” or “big heads” within the government allegedly implicated in the narcotics matter.
Cummings said if credible evidence exists against such individuals, they should not be shielded because of their positions.
“You know the IG, the Inspector General of Police, in his press conference said there were big shots, big heads, in this government that were implicated,” Cummings said.
“We want to know who they are, because otherwise the process seems unjust, it seems selective, it doesn’t seem fair.”
He said the government should arrest and prosecute anyone against whom evidence establishes involvement, regardless of status.
“And that anybody, no matter who they are, if they are associated with this issue, if the evidence is there, they should be arrested,” he said.
Calls Investigation ‘Independent’
Cummings also questioned the independence of the ongoing investigation and called for an independent process capable of establishing the full scope of Liberia’s narcotics problem.
“We want speedy justice. We want an independent investigation of this problem,” he said.
He added that the process “appears not to be independent,” and described it as appearing “rigged” and “one-sided.”
Cummings said the issue extends beyond former Vice President Taylor, insisting that the investigation must identify everyone involved in the alleged narcotics network.
His position, he stressed, is not to defend particular individuals but to ensure that the same standard is applied across the board.
‘I Don’t Put My Head on the Chopping Block for Anybody’
Cummings was careful to distinguish his personal relationship with Howard-Taylor from a declaration of her innocence.
Asked about his confidence in the former Vice President, he said he would not personally guarantee that she could not be involved.
“Again, I don’t put my head on the chopping block for anybody because you never know,” Cummings said.
He nevertheless said his personal knowledge of Howard-Taylor makes the allegations difficult for him to reconcile.
“But it’s not my impression that the woman I know would be involved in what is being alleged,” he said.
Cummings then immediately returned to the importance of evidence.
“But again, let’s see the evidence,” he said. “But the person I know, I would be very surprised, I would be very shocked. But let’s see the facts, let’s see the evidence.”
He said his purpose in visiting Taylor was therefore not to prejudge the case but to empathize with her, encourage her to remain strong and check on her welfare and health.
Confirms Contact With International Partners
Cummings also confirmed that he had followed through on a previous commitment to engage international partners over Liberia’s narcotics crisis.
Journalists reminded him that he had previously said he would seek international involvement in investigating the broader situation, following which the government announced that international partners were participating in the investigation.
Cummings confirmed that he had made the commitment and acted on it.
“I said I would speak to international partners to get involved and I did do that,” he said, declining to provide further details about those engagements.
“People can draw their own conclusions about my role in that or not,” he added.
He said his objective remains ensuring that the government does what is right for Liberia.
“I just hope this government does the right thing, that is all we want,” Cummings said.
Warns Liberia Against Becoming a ‘Narco State’
Cummings described the narcotics crisis as one of Liberia’s most serious national challenges and warned that the country could be moving toward becoming a “narco state.”
“Our country appears to be becoming a narco state, and it’s happening now, under this government’s watch,” he said.
He called for the government to pursue arrests and prosecutions where evidence supports them, including among current officials.
“We want to see prosecution, we want to see arrest from current officials because it’s happening now,” he said.
Cummings said the ANC would continue pressing the government on the issue rather than remaining silent.
“We are going to keep the pressure on the government to do the right thing for the Liberian people,” he said.
Cummings Also Raises Corruption Concerns
The ANC political leader used the opportunity to broaden his criticism to other governance and accountability issues.
He said his party would continue challenging the government over corruption, citing an earlier letter concerning a FOIA construction matter in Lofa County.
“We wrote a letter on this whole FOIA construction in Lofa, we haven’t gotten a response. We will be speaking on that again,” Cummings said.
The remarks suggest that Cummings’ intervention is part of a broader opposition effort to keep pressure on the Boakai administration over transparency, accountability and the handling of major national issues.
‘It’s Not About Taking Sides’
Despite the sharpness of his criticism, Cummings repeatedly insisted that his position should not be interpreted as taking sides in the narcotics case.
“It’s not about taking sides here or there,” he said. “It’s about let’s follow the evidence, but to everybody.”
He said the same principle should apply to Taylor and anyone else who may be implicated.
Cummings specifically called for speedy justice for those already incarcerated, including the former Vice President, while insisting that the process must remain fair.
“We will demand that the government does the right thing by her and by everybody,” he said.
Case Draws Growing National Attention
Cummings’ visit comes as Howard-Taylor’s detention has become one of the most politically sensitive developments arising from Liberia’s intensified campaign against illicit drugs.
The former Vice President has been charged in connection with the ongoing narcotics investigation and has maintained her innocence. Her detention has generated competing demands for accountability on one side and concerns over due process and equal treatment on the other.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has separately said that his administration’s campaign against illicit drugs will be conducted “without fear or favor,” while emphasizing that Howard-Taylor, like every accused person, is presumed innocent and entitled to due process.
The President has also said that determining guilt or innocence is the responsibility of the courts, not the presidency.
Against that backdrop, Cummings’ intervention adds pressure on the government to demonstrate that the investigation is comprehensive, evidence-driven and insulated from political considerations.
For Cummings, the ultimate test is straightforward: follow the evidence wherever it leads, apply the law equally and bring the cases to a speedy conclusion.
He said he intends to continue reminding both the government and the Liberian people of that responsibility.
“Let’s apply justice evenly to everybody,” Cummings said.
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