MONROVIA – Bong County District #6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah staged a dramatic walkout from the House of Representatives on Tuesday after lawmakers moved into Executive Session to receive a briefing from Justice Minister and Attorney General N. Oswald Tweh on the ongoing investigation into the recent seizure of narcotics valued at approximately US$19.2 million.
A visibly upset Mensah declined to participate in the closed-door proceedings, arguing that information surrounding the country’s largest recent drug seizure should be made available to the public rather than discussed behind closed doors.
Speaking with reporters as she exited the Capitol Building, the lawmaker said she could not justify attending a session whose contents she would later be prohibited from sharing with the Liberian people.
“I don’t have a particular interest in it. I have the Liberian people’s interest in it, and if I will sit in an Executive Session and I can’t inform the Liberian people, I may as well just walk away from session,” Mensah told journalists.
The Justice Minister had reportedly requested the opportunity to brief lawmakers off-camera, a request that prompted criticism from the Bong County lawmaker.
“So, he cannot tell us what he wants to do in our chambers. It’s about the Liberian people; then keep the information and ask for time until you get ready to tell us,” she said.
Dispute Over Secrecy
The controversy stems from the government’s handling of the investigation into the massive drug seizure, which has generated widespread public attention and intense debate across Liberia.
Authorities have described the matter as a sensitive investigation requiring adherence to established procedures and international standards. However, Mensah dismissed arguments that secrecy was necessary.
When informed that some officials had justified the closed-door briefing on the basis of international best practices, the lawmaker openly challenged the explanation.
“Why are you calling it international standard? So, kush is a local standard and cocaine is an international standard? It’s a waste of time and a delay of the Liberian people’s time,” she stated.
Despite her refusal to attend the Executive Session, Mensah clarified that she remains willing to question government officials once discussions are conducted publicly.
“When it’s open to the public, I will go back. I will go there and ask my questions that I have to ask,” she said.
Raises Questions About Investigation
The outspoken legislator also raised concerns about aspects of the ongoing investigation, questioning the chain of custody of the seized narcotics and the circumstances surrounding their handling.
Referring to reports that have circulated since the seizure became public, Mensah questioned who was responsible for the shipment and how the evidence was secured between its discovery and subsequent public disclosure.
“Who sent it since Friday? How was it kept safe Friday before Monday? We got to know,” she said, while urging authorities to provide answers to questions surrounding the case.
The drug bust, which was announced by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and other security institutions, has become one of the most closely watched law enforcement cases in recent years. The seizure has fueled calls for transparency and accountability as authorities seek to identify those responsible for importing the narcotics into the country.
“I Am Not Here for That Nonsense”
Mensah also defended her decision to leave the session by citing House rules governing Executive Sessions.
According to the lawmaker, members who participate in closed-door deliberations are prohibited from publicly discussing what transpired during those meetings.
She argued that attending the briefing would effectively prevent her constituents from hearing her views on a matter of significant national interest.
“The House’s rule says when I sit in an Executive Session, I am not to speak about it in public when I come back,” she said. “It’s punishable.”
Rejecting suggestions that she could relay information informally after the meeting, Mensah added: “I’m too old to go gossip. I’m not here for that nonsense.”
Growing Public Interest
The drug seizure has sparked widespread discussion across Liberia, with citizens, civil society groups, and political actors demanding clarity on the origins of the narcotics and the identities of those behind the shipment.
Government officials have repeatedly assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
As the investigation continues, Mensah’s walkout underscores growing tensions between demands for transparency and the government’s insistence that certain aspects of the probe must remain confidential until investigators complete their work.
Whether the Executive Session yields answers to lawmakers’ concerns remains unclear, but the Bong County representative has made it evident that she believes the Liberian people deserve to hear those answers directly.
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