—— Describes Composition a mockery to Genuine Intend
IPNEWS: Muslims the world over on Wednesday, April 10 climax the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan with a call by Liberia’s Chief Imam Ali Krayee for reconstitution of government Asset Recovery Taskforce terming the current composition a mockery to the genuine intend by President Joseph N. Boakai.
The Islamic cleric Imam Ali Krayee urged the government to reconstitute the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce by bringing on board eminent citizens with passion to retrieve the country’s stolen assets.
He termed the Assets Recovery Team as a mockery if the process does not start of the regime of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, Asset Recovery Team concedes to procedural errors ‘in part’ during Court proceedings between it and former Chief of Protocol, Finda Bondo over stopping of her fleet of “Glorious Ride” taxis.
The Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce recently set up by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai under Executive Order #126, recently said its intelligence points to former Chief of Protocol Finda Bondo being owner of the fleet of “Glorious Ride” taxis is being tested in court.
The Supreme Court Justice in Chambers, Yussif D. Kaba on Monday April 1,2024 demanded that Glorious Ride company headed by Finda Bondo present title documents leading to the legitimate of the vehicles.
During proceedings Monday, April 8, 2024, Supreme Court Chambers Justice, Yussif D. Kaba declined to grant a request by the Gracious ride to prevent the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval team from impounding all of its legitimate vehicles, after the Asset recovery team conceded procedural errors.
Justice Kaba’s decision was based on a communication dated April 8,2024 by the Asset Recovery and property Retrieval task force in which they yielded to the petition and that they were going to abide by the authority of the court and appropriate laws and was going to apply with due process and the rule of law.
According to the communication, Asset Recovery and property retrieval task force acknowledged that its action was not deliberate to disenfranchise the Gracious ride but was done to investigate the allegations of suspicion surrounding the acquisition of the petitioner’s petition vehicles.
Asset recovery and property retrieval task force further maintained that the investigation suspicious assets fall within the mandate of Executive order #126 which was announced by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai.
However, in his one-page decision, Justice Kaba also ordered the Asset Recovery and property retrieval task force to proceed in line with the law.
Copy of Justice Kaba’s ruling dated April 8,2024, and obtained by this news outlet, it reads” By directive of his Honor Yussif D. Kaba, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers has declined to issue the writ prayed for by the petitioner, reserving the rights and considering the attach communication from the respondent, you are hereby informed that the respondent to proceed in keeping with law.”
Before Justice Kaba’s order, a five day-ultimatums was given to Gracious ride which got expired on April 5,2024, to bring their legitimate documents for the vehicles.
It can be recalled on Wednesday, March 27,2024, the Glorious ride vehicles and several vehicles belonging to the former Police IG Patrick Sudue were impounded by the Asset Recovery and property Retrieval team headed by former Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission boss Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin and team.
Following the seizure of the vehicles, Justice Kaba ordered the release of all the vehicles seized and stay all seizure pending outcome of the conference on April 1,2024 which Gracious ride was given a five-day ultimatum to present their ownership documents.
On March 11, 2024, the Executive Director of CENTAL, Anderson Miamen said the President should direct the funds to the Asset Recovery Unit at the LACC.
He stressed that if the Taskforce must be maintained, it should or has to be led or headed by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and not exclusive of the Commission, as it is currently.
Referencing some assumed compromised individuals serving on the Taskforce; Mr. Miamen named Martin Kollie and Ms. Victoria Moinsemah whom he identified were big supporters of the 2023 bid of President Boakai.
According to him, it is common knowledge that Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin who chairs the Asset Recovery Taskforce lost his position at the LACC under the Coalition for Democratic Change administration.
On the heels of the taskforce setup, former Auditor-General of Liberia, John Morlu says Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, Alexander Cuffy and others selected by President Boakai on the Asset Recovery Taskforce lack the integrity, education, exposure, and competence to lead the fight against stolen assets.
Recently, President Joseph Boakai issued Executive Order No. 126 establishing the Office of Assets Recovery and constituted the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Core Team headed by Cllr. Martin to locate, recover and retrieve public resources and properties in the country.
But sharply landing his thoughts on the President’s selectees via his official Facebook Page Sunday, March 10, 2024, Mr. Morlu said corruption control requires solid and sustained action, not political grandstanding embellished in deceit and hypocrisy.
He stressed that the Executive Order to establish an Asset Recovery Taskforce from the very beginning is a mere posturing on the part of President Boakai intended to pump air in the space for the sole purpose of getting some crumbs from the International Community to support his Government.
According to him, a Kla Martin, whom he described as a follower of Cllr. Sayma Cephus, former NPFL rebel, refused visas multiple times by the United States and listed in the Internal Audit Agency’s Report for corruption at LACC, cannot be the messiah to recover stolen wealth scatter not only in Liberia but in America, Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa.
Commenting on Alex Cuffy who is a member and Special Advisor to the team, the ex-Auditor-General said in GAC’s RIA report, Mr. Cuffy was accused of multiple corruption at the FIU as such; he lacks the morals to lead the fight.
At the same time, Mr. Morlu noted that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is walking former President Weah’s walk, which will yield the same results, adding that asset recovery should not be merely restricted to Weah’s six years but should go far back to the very existence of the country.
“Corruption control requires solid and sustained action, not political grandstanding embellished in deceit and hypocrisy. The Executive Order to establish an Asset Recovery Taskforce from the very beginning is a mere posturing on the part of JNB intended to pump air in the space for the sole purpose of getting some crumps from the International Community to support his Government. Same tactics applied by Weah with Elton deal, meant to attract Bretton Wood. A Kla Martin, a protégé of Cephus, former NPFL rebel, refused visas multiple times by USA, and listed in the IAA’s Report for corruption at LACC, cannot be the messiah to recover stolen wealth scatter not only in Liberia but in America, Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa. A Cuffy, in GAC’s RIA report, accused of multiple corruptions at the FIU, a no messiah either. A Jackson with his hand stained in Bong County Development Funds, cannot be a messiah in this fight. They don’t have the integrity, education, exposure, and competence to lead this fight. You cannot set up a serious team for the mere purpose of meeting job satisfaction, lacking competence, experience, education, and exposure.”
“JNB is walking Weah’s walk, which will yield the same results. What happened to the little funds recovered by Cephus and Arthur Johnson? “
“Yes, Doe created the Bureau of Reacquisition, purposing it to identify the properties of former government officials that were executed after the 1980 coup. This Bureau, along with Doe and his cronies, misappropriated money they collected and seized and divided propertied they purported to recover. Could VAMUMA House and Nancy Doe’s House be among properties recovered?”
“Assets Recovery is that gold mine that will lift Liberia into 200 years of existence, a potential to give Liberia the Coastal Highway, and several other road projects, end nightmare with electricity and pipe borne water, etc. Assets Recovery should not be merely restricted to Weah’s six years. It should go far back to the very existence of this country. Like Doe’s group, Cephus/Arthur failed to show what financial benefit the government got from the assets. On a common issue that has impoverished Liberia for years, JNB chose to walk the same walk of Weah, Sirleaf, Taylor, and Doe.” Former Auditor-General John Morlu Talks though.
There has been no reaction from the office of President Joseph N. Boakai over this latest statement by an inner cycle of the UP Alliance.
