PHOTO: Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, former Justice Min.
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The Majority Bench member of the Supreme Court of Liberia on Thursday December 18,2025, ruled and cleared former Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean who was alleged of selling diamond that was discovered in Gbapolu County in 20203, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
When the case was called for hearing, Counsellors J. Johnny Momoh and Frank Musa Dean, Jr. appeared for the Informant. Cousellors Sayma Syrenuis Cephus, Kabineh M. Ja’neh and M. Wilkins Wright appeared for the respondents.
The court said, having heard the arguments, reviewed the facts and circumstances revealed by the records, and examined the laws controlling, it is hereby
ADJUDGED:
That it is the law that courts must confine the enforcement of judgment within the limits prescribed by the judgment itself. A Mandate growing out of a Judgment of this Court rendered against the Government of Liberia cannot lawfully be enforced against former officials who were not personally named or adjudged liable;
That in the instant case, the Mandate in question ordered the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, to make restitution of the diamond or its monetary equivalent. Nowhere in the Mandate or the Judgment of this Court was the informant personally named or held liable; and
That, however, the informant, not being a party to the action out of which the bill of information grew, a bill of information is not the proper vehicle to remedy such a violation visited upon the law by the trial court’s judge.
WHEREFORE, AND IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the bill of information riot being the proper course of action, we however hold that the trial court proceeded improperly in the enforcement of the Mandate of this Court. The Clerk of this Court is ordered to send a Mandate to the court below commanding the judge presiding therein to resume jurisdiction and proceed consistent with this Judgment. Costs disallowed. AND IT IS HEREBY SO ORDERED.
Note. Madam Justice Jamesetta Howard Woiokolie not being in full agreement with some laws in the majority Opinion, has withheld her signature; hence, she did not sign this Judgment.
Mr. Justice Boakai N. Kanneh being out of the bailiwick of the Republic, did not participate in the hearing and determination of this case; hence, he did not sign this Judgment.
After the Justice Chambers Jamestta Howard Wolokolie cancelled a conference slated for October 16,2025, the Justice Minister, Frank Musa Dean filed a bill of Information to the full Bench of the Supreme Court.
However, the High Court has mandated the parties involved to file their returns on October 13th, 2025.
The citation listed his Honor J. Boima Kontoe, Assigned Circuit Judge, 6 Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, Montserrado County, the Sheriff, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court. Montserrado County, T. David Slurward and Abraham Kamara, Holder of Class “C” Mining License Agency, Claim #12F/Survey, Smith Town, Gharma Mining Agency. Gharma Statutory District, Gharpolu County, Liberia and Mohammed Kamara, commonly known as “JK”, also of Smith Town, Gharma Statutory District, Gharpolu County, Republic of Liberia as
RESPONDENTS.
The citation reads, YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to notify His Honor J. Boima Kontoe, Assigned Circuit Judge, 6th Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, Montserrado County, the Sheriff, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, Montserrado County, T. David Sluward and Abraham Kamara, Holder of Class “C” Mining License Agency, Claim #12F/Survey, Smith Town, Gbarma Mining Agency, Gharma Statutory District, Gbarpolu County, Liberia and Mohammed Kamara, commonly known as “JR”, also of Smith Town, Gharma Statutory District, Gharpolu County, Republic of Liberia, RESPONDENTS, in the above entitled cause of action, to appear and file their returns before the FULL BENCH of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, Temple of Justice, on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 am., to show cause why the INFORMANT’S INFORMATION as prayed for should not be granted; and
YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to instruct the RESPONDENTS herein to file their OFFICIAL RETURNS to this Writ in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court on or before the said 13th day of OCTOBER A. D. 2025; and To read to them the original and leave a copy of the writ with the RESPONDENTS; and
As to when and how you shall have served this Writ, you will make known by filing your OFFICIAL RETURNS hereto on the back of the original Writ in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court on or before the said 13th day of OCTOBER A. D. 2025.
AND FOR SO DOING, THIS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOUR LEGAL AND SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA THIS 6TH DAY OF OCTOBER A. D. 2025.
Clir. Sam Mamulu CLERK, SUPREME COURT, R.L
SEAL
Following ruling into the missing diamond involving former Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean and former officials of the CDC government who were ordered arrested, the Justice presiding in Chambers Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie has mandated the Sixth Judicial Civil Law to continue with the proceedings in line with law.
The court reads, By directive of Her Honor Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby informed that the conference slated for Thursday, October 16, 2025, has been cancelled. The Respondent Judge has been mandated to resume jurisdiction, and to proceed in keeping with law.
What led to the cancellation of the conference is still unknown. The decision of this cancellation was done on October 2,2025.
The Presiding Chamber Justice of Supreme Court on October 1,2025, ordered an immediate halt to the execution of an arrest warrant against former Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. Musah Dean, after the defense lawyers challenged the ruling of the local court, the Civil Law Court, that implicated Cllr. Dean to the allege sale of a 53.34-carat diamond valued at $11.5 million., which Assigned Judge Boima Kontoe described as a “criminal cartel.”
The move temporarily suspended the Civil Law Court enforcement of the writ of arrest against the Justice Minister Dean, although several other former officials of the Weah-led administration, who were allegedly iinvolves with the sale of a 53.34-carat diamond, belonging to Mr. David Sluward and Mr. Mohammed Kamara, according to the early Supreme Court ruling.
Other individuals other arrested were Gesler E. Murray – Former Minister of Mines and Energy, Mustapha Tounkara – President, Diamond Dealers Association, Korvah Baykah, James Biaku, Emmanuel T.J. Saye – Figures linked to the diamond’s appraisal and certification.
But, the temporariy stay only applied to Minister Dean.
In a directive dated September 30, 2025, the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court instructed, to stay further proceedings and/ or actions to the matter pending the outcome of the matter.
According to the stay, Judge Kontoe, is cited to a conference with Her Honor Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the hour of 1:00pm.
The stayed resulted from a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by Cllr. Dean, requesting the Supreme Court to review decisions of Judge Kontoe.
In the petition, Cllr. Dean relying on the Article 21 (I) of the 1986 Constitution and Chapter 22 of the Executive Law, outling the role of the Attorney General and the lawyer-client relationships, that he was performing for the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
But, according to Judge Kontoe, Liberian court has ordered the arrest of several
The ruling Judge J. Boima Kontoe challenged ruling, he mandated that the named individuals be jailed at Monrovia Central Prison unless they can account for the diamond’s whereabouts. Moreover, Kontoe said, Minister Dean and his co-accused are part of a “criminal cartel” responsible for what he believes to be a “theft and sale” of a 53.34-carat diamond valued at $11.5 million. Though, Minister Dean conducted an investigation of the matter, he is arguing that he was performing a duty in line with the executive Law chapter 22,, which partly states”Provide opinions on legal matters to the Ministry’s attention and give services to the President of Liberia and to all other government agencies requiring the legal skills of the Ministry, and to provide legal assistance on behalf of the Liberian Government, involving all legal questions arising out of Commercial Transactions in which the Republic of Liberia is a party, including providing legal advice in negotiations of concession agreements.”
In line with his responsibilities, when the of the diamond was raised, Cllr. Dean, as Attorney General, headed the panel that investigated the matter.
Cllr Dean, in a communication dated June 5, 2023, informed the former Minister of Mines and Energy, Gesler E. Murray on the completion of the investigation of the origin and ownership of the 53.34-carat diamond, found in Gbarpolu County, Smith Town.
According to Dean, the diamond was discovered at Claim 12 F Survey in the Gbarma Mining District.
The Ministry’s position rests on a constitutional interpretation, specifically citing Article 22(a), which states that private property rights do not extend to mineral resources, which belong to the Republic.
Dean said, that all mining must be licensed by the government, but that since the claimant’s license had expired on May 25, 2022, and the diamond was found on April 21, 2023, the claimant had “lost all legal rights, privileges, and claims to the diamond.”
Immediately after Minister Dean’s released the report to the Ministry of mines and energy, the Ministry in a press release dated January 3, 2023, it says, the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy has clarified that the 53.34 carat diamond discovered and recovered in Smith Town, Gharma Mining District #2. in Gbarpolu County on Claim 12 F/survey was fully documented and accounted for,and thereto met all qualifying requirements for shipment out of the Country.
Importantly, the Government through the Ministry of Mines and Energy clarifies that the Exporter/Dealer went through all required processes of the Minerals and Mining Law through the Gold and Diamond office at the Ministry. It must be emphasized that said diamond was exported in full compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
The Kimberly Process Certificate Scheme, of which Liberia is a participating country, is an international transparency mechanism that regulates the trading in rough diamonds. Additionally, the Government clarifies that a Joint Security Board of Investigation was established comprising the Ministry of Justice, Executive Protective Service, Armed Forces of Liberia, National Security Agency, and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“The Board which was chaired by the Ministry of Justice had the specific mandate to established where the diamond was discovered and recovered so as to establish ownership. Their investigation which included site visitation revealed that the 53.34 carat diamond was found by one Mohamed Kamara, alias JR, near Smith Town, Gbarma Mining District #2, Lofa River, Claim 12/F Survey. However, the previous owner of Mining Claim 12 F/survey on which the diamond was discovered and recovered lost legal ownership rights to the diamond because the mining license for the said claim expired since May 25, 2022, and that the 53.34 carat diamond was found on that claim by Mohammed Kamara (commonly known as JR) on April 21, ” the letter noted.
The ministry went on, contrary to public perceptions about the value of the 53.34 carat diamond, the Government of Liberia informs the public that the diamond was appraised by mineral valuators of the Ministry of Mines and Energy through its Gold and Diamond Office (GDO), including an independent International Valuator assigned by the Kimberly Process Certificate Scheme (KPC).
The value of the diamond was put at US$1.003.880.55 (One Million Three Hundred Eight-eight Thousand. Fifty-Five Cents United States Dollars), to the Ministry
Accordingly, the Ministry of Mines and Energy which regulates all mineral activities in Liberia, the Exporter/Dealer paid a total amount of US$80,146.78 (Eighty Thousand One Hundred and Forty Six Dollars, and Seventy-eight cents United States Dollars) to the Government of Liberia through the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) from the sale of the diamond.
“This amount constitutes a three percent royalty tax fee amounting to US$30,116.42 (Thirty Thousand One Hundred and Sixteen Dollars, and Forty-two cents United States Dollars), plus a fine of US$50,000 (Fifty Thousand United States Dollars). In addition to the 53.34 carat diamond, the Dealer/Exporter already had 24.1 carats which put the total shipment in his parcel to 78.01 carats. The Government clarifies that the fine was imposed on the cost of the diamond because it was purchased from a mining claim that had expired documents,” the communication stated.
The dispute originated when the government of former President George Weah, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, seized the diamond, asserting it was state property.
Then-Minister of Justice, Frank Musa Dean, formally championed this position, declaring the diamond belonged to the Government of Liberia.
The licensed miners, David Sluward and Abraham Kamara, challenged this seizure in the Civil Law Court of Montserrado County. The court ruled in the miners’ favor, finding the government’s claim to be unlawful. The Weah-era administration, refusing to accept the lower court’s decision, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a final legal showdown over the asset’s ownership, which the highest court affirmed the local court ruling.