The Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) says it will shortly release final report into the much-publicized 25 million United States dollars that was used to mop-up excess Liberian dollars last year.
LACC disclosed that the long awaited final report in the investigation of the controversial Twenty Five Million United States Dollars (US$25M) for government’s mop-up exercise will be ready within three (3) weeks or twenty one days (21) as of Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Speaking to journalists during the Ministry of Information Regular press briefing on Thursday November 28, LACC Executive Director Attorney Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh noted that though the investigation was tedious, the final report will be submitted within three weeks.
The government of Liberia through the Central Bank of Liberia in 2018 provided Twenty Five Million United States Dollars (US$25M) to be used for a nationwide mop-up exercise as part of effort to stabilize the increasing Foreign Exchange rate in the country at the time.
Liberian political observers and economists are of the opinion that the release of the final investigation report on this controversial national financial matter will help to remedy the claims and counterclaims about the money in view.
Attorney Fahnbulleh, who spoke to the press on the progress and challenges that the LACC is faced with in the fight against corruption in Liberia, revealed that several investigations of government functionaries, including but not limited to the National Bureau of Concession (NBC), Foyah Technical College, Bong County Technical College (BCTC), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), William V.S. Tubman University (TU) and the Liberia National Police (LNP).
He also stated that the LACC is currently investigating three projects at the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) valued at Seventy Three Million United States Dollars (US$73M), adding that the LACC has also obtained an Indictment at the Tubman University.
According to him, the investigation report into allegations of corruption at the Foyah Technical College in Lofa County is ready.
At the Liberia National Police, Attorney Fahnbulleh further revealed that the LACC has kept the LNP under surveillance for a long-drawn-out period now to determine the level of corruption at the nation’s first line of internal security.
He noted that the compromise of police officers, mainly from the Traffic Division, to issue tickets to commercial, private and government vehicles that violate the country’s traffic rules is causing a huge loss in government’s revenue generating capacity and coffers.
The LACC Boss did not disclose the estimated amount of monies government forfeits owing to the corrupt practices of the state police officers in dollar and cents but it is believed that the revenue generation of the state is being hampered as a result of this anti-government and unpatriotic practice.
Former LACC former Comptroller bans from traveling
He also used the occasion to give what he termed as ‘clarity on integrity issue’ on the resignation of Mr. J. Bernard Nagbeh, Comptroller at the LACC.
Contrary to the Comptroller’s claim, that the agency has not been paid for over four months, Attorney Fahnbulleh clarified that the actual period government owes the LACC workforce is October and November, 2019, saying that they have been paid up to the end of September, 2019.
Attorney Fahnbulleh informed the press that the LACC has urged the outgoing Comptroller to remain in country for the period of an ongoing internal audit at the agency on grounds that he was directly involved with the financial operations of the LACC thus agency needs his expertise for the conduct of the internal audit exercise.
Meanwhile, the LACC Boss said his entity is working in collaboration with the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) in a joint operation to go to the leeward counties in order to educate local government officials on assets declaration and verification.
