Unity Party Stewards Disappointed Over Partisans’ Attack on Fight Against Drugs
By: Laymah Kollie
Monrovia, July 7,2026: Senior members of the ruling Unity Party serving in the Liberian Senate have expressed disappointment over attacks by government officials against the Senate’s ongoing oversight of the investigation into the reported US$19 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
Speaking during Tuesday’s Senate sitting, Bong County Senator Prince Kermue Moye, a steward of the Unity Party who served as the party’s National Campaign Chair during the 2023 elections, criticized government officials for questioning the Senate’s constitutional oversight role in the high-profile drug investigation.
Senator Moye said it was unfortunate that some officials who vigorously campaigned against drug trafficking while the Unity Party was in opposition are now criticizing lawmakers for demanding accountability from security institutions.
According to him, the Senate is merely carrying out its constitutional responsibility by seeking answers from officials handling the investigation, stressing that lawmakers cannot remain silent on an issue of such national importance.
“We campaigned against these same issues when we were out of power, so it’s unfortunate for people that worked with us during the campaign to come out and be sugarcoating drug matters”, Moye said.
Adding that it would be unfair to the Liberian people for those now serving in government to discourage scrutiny into the country’s largest reported drug seizure.
He warned that attacking the Senate for exercising its oversight authority could erode public confidence in the government’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
The debate comes amid growing public attention over the June seizure of cocaine valued at more than US$19 million at Roberts International Airport, a case that continues to attract legislative scrutiny.
The concern was raised by Bomi County Senator Edward Melvin Sowne about the repeated public attacks on the Senate by presidential appointees.
Senator Sowne specifically cited comments made on Facebook by Liberia Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (LRREA) Executive Director Samuel Nagbe, who allegedly accused senators of politicizing the drug investigation instead of conducting legitimate oversight.
Sowne argued that while ordinary citizens have every right to criticize lawmakers, political appointees serving in the Executive Branch should refrain from publicly attacking another branch of government for carrying out its constitutional mandate.
The opposition lawmaker warned that allowing such conduct to continue unchecked could undermine the Legislature’s oversight authority and weaken Liberia’s democratic system of checks and balances.
Like Moye and others, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabbah M. Varpilah, who serves as National Vice Chair of the Unity Party, said the conduct of some government officials does not reflect the values upon which the Unity Party campaigned.
Varpilah complained specifically about Samuel Nagbe’s public comments regarding the Senate’s handling of the drug investigation, describing them as inappropriate for a presidential appointee.
Highlighting the Ministry of Information constant reactions to opposing views, Senator Varpilah stressed that leaders of the institution have diverse the sole functions of the entity which is not serving the code functions of the Liberian people.
“Every day the Ministry of information used their podium to respond to every views that differ, instead of focusing on informing Liberians about government programs and development initiatives”.
The Grand Cape Mount lawmaker maintained that the Senate has both the constitutional authority and obligation to provide oversight, emphasizing that questioning the Legislature for carrying out that responsibility only undermines the government’s own commitment to accountability and the rule of law.
Following the debate, the Senate agreed to cite LRREA Executive Director Samuel Nagbe and Civil Service Agency Director-General Josiah Joekai to appear before ‘Plenary-of-a-whole’ on this Thursday to provide reasons for their actions. The senate is expected to make a decision on the matter after the government officials appearance.
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