Taylor Indictment Delay Draws Fire

By Lincoln G. Peters

TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia, September 21, 2026 — Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Chief of Staff to former President George Manneh Weah, has criticized the Government of Liberia over what he says is its failure to formally indict former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, weeks after she was arrested in connection with the US$317 million drug case.

Nagbe argued that about 33 days have passed since Howard-Taylor was arrested, yet prosecutors have not secured an indictment against her following the defense team’s decision to waive preliminary examination before the Monrovia City Court.

He questioned why the former Vice President remains under court-ordered home detention and a travel restriction while the case awaits further legal proceedings.

Nagbe said the delay raises questions about the strength of the government’s case, arguing that prosecutors should move swiftly to obtain an indictment and present evidence before a court if they believe they can prove the allegations against Howard-Taylor.

“It has been 33 days and 33 nights since the Boakai administration illegally arrested Jewel. Yet, no indictment crafted, no grand jury convened. Now the government ‘needs more time’?” Nagbe said.

“You knew you had no evidence, no indictment, no grand jury; why the hell rush to arrest the woman with over 30 armed men like she is some criminal? COMPLETE NONSENSE!!!” he added.

Nagbe’s assertions that Howard-Taylor’s arrest was illegal and that the government lacks evidence are his claims and have not been established by a court.

Former Vice President Howard-Taylor was arrested in August in connection with an investigation arising from the seizure of nearly four metric tons of cocaine in Duazon, Margibi County, in July. Authorities valued the drugs at approximately US$317 million.

She has denied wrongdoing, while her lawyers and family have repeatedly maintained that the allegations against her remain unproven.

The former Vice President was initially detained at the Monrovia Central Prison before Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika granted her temporary release on medical grounds on September 4. The court placed her under home detention, restricted her travel and ordered her to surrender her travel documents.

The court made clear that the temporary medical release did not constitute an acquittal, dismissal or termination of the criminal proceedings against her.

The Monrovia City Court ordered the case forwarded to Criminal Court “C” after the former Vice President’s lawyers withdrew and waived their request for a preliminary examination.

The defense formally withdrew its request after prosecutors began presenting evidence to establish probable cause, including testimony referring to alleged audio evidence.

Prosecutors did not object to the defense’s withdrawal but asked the court to transfer the case to the appropriate jurisdiction so the government could pursue the formal indictment process.

In his ruling, Magistrate Ben Barco cited Section 12 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which provides for a preliminary examination at a defendant’s request.

Barco said that because Howard-Taylor’s lawyers voluntarily withdrew their request, the court could not compel them to continue with the preliminary proceedings. He subsequently instructed the clerk to forward the matter to the appropriate court for further action.

The decision paved the way for prosecutors to seek an indictment before Criminal Court “C,” which has jurisdiction over the alleged offenses.

However, Howard-Taylor’s legal team stressed that forwarding the case does not constitute a finding of guilt and maintained that the government must prove its allegations through the judicial process.

On September 8, Howard-Taylor’s family and legal team also rejected what they described as prejudicial public statements and media reports suggesting that the former Vice President had already been indicted or found guilty.

They said the decision to waive preliminary examination should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt or evidence that an indictment had been returned.

“This decision must be understood in its proper context, and the record must be set straight: as of this statement, Madam Howard-Taylor has not been indicted by a grand jury,” the statement said.

“The Government has announced allegations and filed a criminal complaint — but a complaint is not an indictment, and an indictment, if ever returned, would not be a conviction,” the family and legal team added.

Howard-Taylor’s lawyers have since moved Criminal Court “C” to admit her to bail and lift the home-detention and travel restrictions imposed as conditions of her temporary medical release.

The motion remains part of the continuing legal proceedings surrounding the former Vice President, who is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.