Liberian House Committee Seizes Corruption Fight

The Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives in Liberia has announced that it is closely monitoring efforts to retrieve stolen government money from individuals, including former officials.

According to the committee's Chairman, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa the committee is monitoring the process so as to ensure it is undertaken in accordance with the constitution.

The corruption fight was launched by the solicitor general and government. However, Cllr. Koffa noted that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and justice ministry need to address tensions to ensure they are working together closely on the matter.  

The committee is expected to invite officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission to appear before the group and share details of the exercise.

The office of the solicitor general has reportedly received 256 audit reports from the General Auditing Commission that could represent around US$4.6bn in lost revenues. 

The solicitor general has called for a budget of US$2.1mn to fund the work of his office and the prosecutorial arm of government to pursue the stolen funds, as well as making specific requests for audit reports on a number of bodies and transactions including the Executive Mansion Renovation; the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) Sale of Oil Block 13 to ExxonMobile, the collapse of the National Oil Company of Liberia, the NASSCORP, and the Central Bank of Liberia Construction.