CENTAL Wants Speedy Investigation into Bribery Allegations at the House of Representatives

- Calls for Probe into Speaker Koffa’s Budget Manipulation Revelation

Monrovia, Thursday, October 24, 2024- Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are happy to have you join us for today’s press conference.  

Over the years, CENTAL has been a staunch advocate of integrity, transparency, and accountability in Liberia. We have supported efforts to strengthen public integrity institutions and enhance the fight against corruption. One of our latest efforts is the development of a Corruption Case Tracker, an online platform for documenting and tracking the status of corruption cases in Liberia. The Tracker can be accessed at  www.cct.cental.org.lr. We remain committed to supporting the government in attaining positive anti-corruption outcomes.

Allegations of corruption in the legislature have been widespread. In successive elections, voters have expressed disdain for most corrupt and underperforming lawmakers through the ballot box.  During the October 2023 presidential and legislative elections, only 28 (43%) of 65 representatives who sought reelection were retained by their constituents.  Of the 8 sitting representatives who sought election to the Senate, only 2 (25%) were successful. Combined, this means that only 30 (41%) of representatives who sought reelection were successful. Amongst many other factors responsible for the mass dismissal of lawmakers were sustained allegations and incidences of bribery and other corruption involving senators and representatives, most of which were never fully investigated. By their rejection, Liberians sent a very strong message that they are becoming increasingly enlightened and will no longer tolerate underperformance, bribery, and other forms of corruption from their leaders. It was expected that this new batch of officials/lawmakers would be circumspect, lawful, and public-interest-driven in their decision-making, at all times.

However, this does not seem to be the case, unfortunately, if recent developments at the House of Representatives and others prior are the basis for drawing conclusions. Over the last few days, the House of Representatives has been embroiled in a conflict resulting from attempts to remove the current Speaker, Hon. J. Fonati Koffa. CENTAL recognizes the right and power of Representatives to remove the Speaker and other elected leaders, according to Article 49 of the 1986 Constitution, which provides that two-thirds of the membership can do so, in line with due process of law. We are deeply troubled by new and sustained allegations of bribery characterizing the process.

Early this week, in a petition read to the media, “majority lawmakers” seeking the removal of Speaker Koffa accused him of bad leadership, corruption, and other misdeeds, including conflict of interest. The Speaker stands accused of providing legal consultancy to several public and private institutions, claims he has since rebuffed, stating that he has since divested his shares in his law firm (International Law Group).  In the face of all these, we Call for a full-scale independent investigation into these allegations to establish their veracity.     

Meanwhile, in a video widely circulated on social media, Representative Luther Collins of District #2 in Gbarpolu County was seen displaying cash amounting to 15,000 USD allegedly received from his colleague, Representative James N. Kolleh of District #2 in Bong County, on behalf of the group of representatives seeking the Speaker’s removal. According to him, the total bribe involved is 25,000 USD, with an upfront payment of 15,000 USD, to be followed by 10,000 USD after the successful removal of the Speaker. Representative Collins’ startling revelations, which have been refuted by the accused, come amidst widespread allegations of corruption and bribery at the legislature, similar to many others previously reported, characterizing legislative decision-making. This is highly troubling and typical of national leaders on whose shoulders the hopes and aspirations of citizens lie.

Further to Re presentative Collins’ bribery allegations, in a late-night live interview on the Spoon Communications Network on October 22, 2024, Speaker Fonati Koffa reaffirmed longstanding reports and allegations of budget manipulation and corruption by some representatives and relevant committees of the lower house. Also, the Speaker accused some of his colleagues of demanding monies from the executive branch of government to pass on key legislations and bills.

For us at CENTAL, this revelation is highly troubling, especially so that they are emanating from the Speaker who is a highly-placed source at the legislature, a former deputy speaker, and the current leader of the body. Among other things, these claims and counterclaims further validate CENTAL’S 2021, 2022, and 2023 State of Corruption Research Reports and other publications that have highlighted budget manipulation and corruption by some members of the Legislature, which only benefits them and their collaborators.

For too long, Liberians have been robbed of their taxes and other resources and assets by unscrupulous individuals and officials, including some members of the legislature. We are disappointed in the Legislature’s continuous link to corruption and bad decision-making. Coupled with previous occurrences, these bribery allegations have demonstrated that the Legislature has not properly and independently performed its oversight, lawmaking, and other functions. It is widely believed that, often, laws passed and financial instruments concluded are not properly scrutinized, due to reported receipt of bribes and other undue payments by businesses and others alike. The body directly representing Liberians and overseeing the work of the two other branches of government cannot be the weakest link, evident by their often-poor decision-making and alleged corrupt dealings.

Liberians deserve better representation and decision-making from their elected officials.  It is concerning that the majority of members of this very 55^th legislature have refused to comply with the Code of Conduct for public officials to declare their assets, incomes, and liabilities. Although President Boakai has disappointingly not prevailed on the majority of his appointed officials to declare their assets, incomes, and liabilities, representatives and senators need to act differently and set high standards for others to emulate, both in and out of government.  The legislature must rise above negativities and adopt a more positive attitude and reputation if it must be taken seriously and regarded by citizens and partners as a key and reliable pillar of the country’s democracy and governance process. Individual lawmakers have the responsibility to set high standards and provide leadership and direction for the country. The current wave of allegations of bribery to unseat the current speaker does not help to place lawmakers in a morally upright position to play such very important roles.

Recommendations:

• We welcome the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s swift move to publicly announce the initiation of any independent investigation into the bribery scandal characterizing the ongoing process to remove Speaker Koffa. We urge the Commission to be timely and holistic in investigating the matter and all other emerging issues and allegations, including accusations of wrongdoing by the Speaker. This latest bribery scandal and other emerging issues present an opportunity for LACC to thoroughly investigate these matters and provide clear information to the public on the outcomes. Where necessary, we call for the involvement of other partners and stakeholders in taking on this process, ensuring that it is transparent, holistic, and involves all actors and players concerned. Additionally, encourage the Commission to go beyond the allegation of bribery to remove the speaker and investigate other issues that are emerging, including revelations from the Speaker about budget corruption and manipulation involving some representatives.
• The decisions of the Legislature, the Lower House in this instant case, must be lawful, transparent, and void of alleged and confirmed incidences of bribery and other forms of corruption. Again, we call for a thorough investigation into the current bribery allegations and other issues emerging regarding budget corruption and tempering, which may be undisputable due to how some representatives and senators have acquired stolen wealth, which their salaries and incomes cannot justify.
• We strongly urge the Legislature to open itself up for all forms of audit and other review processes, as may be prescribed by the General Auditing Commission and other statutorily-mandated institutions. Where necessary, we urge the GAC to collaborate with other internationally-acclaimed audit institutions to conduct the process and provide credible and timely reports on financial and other dealings of the Legislature. This is a call Liberians have been making for ever so long, along with development partners and some members of the legislature itself. Liberians are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of such comprehensive financial and other forms of audit that provide detailed, inclusive, and credible information on how budgeted resources of the Legislature have been expended, over the years.

• We call on the Ministry of Justice to collaborate with LACC to investigate and prosecute past and current lawmakers embroiled in alleged corrupt financial and other dealings. It is about time that we erase the notion and insinuations that lawmakers are above the law and or immune from accountability or prosecution for their alleged wrongdoings.
• We call on our development partners to closely follow these and other developments to take the necessary actions to help ensure transparency and accountability in public service in Liberia. We encourage deeper and frank engagement with all actors in government to ensure true accountability and transparency in government.

In conclusion, we call for greater leadership in the Legislature. We urge members and the leadership to ensure that transparency, integrity, rule of law, and other good governance principles characterize their actions and decision-making.  We call for a full investigation of the publicized bribery allegations and other issues by the state. Liberians deserve better leadership, selflessness, transparency, and other attributes of leaders.

Thank you.

Signed: Management