LFA Comm. Dir. Hit At Bility …Says He Maliciously Lied That CAF Cleared Him

The Communication Director at the Liberia Football Association (LFA), has challenged President Emeritus of the of the local football house, Musa Hassan Bility, to provide copy of a finding that proves that Confederation of African Football (CAF) did clear him during the investigation into the missing US$200,000 intended for Liberia.

Director Danesius Marteh made the comments when he spoke to the INQUIRER Newspaper on Wednesday, September 18, while providing update on the status of the long awaited investigation conducted by CAF to establish what actually happened with Liberia’s US$200,000 that was diverted to a private company in Poland.

The LFA Communication chief also disclosed that the football house is yet to receive any update as per the status of the investigation but confirmed that the local police did complete their component of the investigation which included the interrogation of LFA former Secretary General, Emmanuel O. Deah.

When asked whether CAF did clear Musa Bility and the former regime during its investigation into the missing US$200,000, as was claimed by Bility, the Communication Director said, “Musa Bility maliciously lied that CAF cleared him. Let the former LFA boss provide a copy of the finding from CAF that speaks directly to him and the former regime been cleared of any wrong doing during the CAF investigation.”

“Until that time, I cannot confirm that what the former LFA boss said is true. I know Mr. Bility,” the LFA Communication Director added.

The news of a diverted US$200,000 designated for the Liberia Football Association (LFA), broke out early 2019 when the new LFA boss, Mustapha Raji, informed the public that Liberia was robbed of a huge grassroots football development money which was allotted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Raji disclosed that the US$200,000 was diverted to the account of a Polish based artifact company in Poland and that the news was never provided to the public by former president Bility. Interestingly the money was destined for Liberia. The news that later gained public attraction escalated with rumors that the transfer of the money was engineered by Bility and other co-workers at the FA.

The LFA boss also informed the media that the local football house that they had initiated criminal investigations into the transferred US$200,000, stressing that some former officials of the LFA would face interrogation by state security to determine any criminality in the process.

The LFA Secretary General Emeritus, Emmanuel O. Deah was one of the key former personnel of the FA that faced police probe.

In the wake of the uncertainty over the disappeared US$200,000, Musa Bility became the progenitor of an internal transparency advocacy at CAF thus insisting that the continental football authority takes the lead to establish what actually happened to Liberia’s money.

CAF had argued that the instruction to transfer the fun to a Polish account originated from inside the local football house. In a letter dated February 1, 2019, Bility accused CAF of being the prime instigator of the deal. Bility insisted that it was false and misleading reports from CAF that LFA did authorize the transfer of US$200,000 to a Polish account.

“Can CAF send funds intended for Member Associations (MA) to a third party beneficiary in the wake of tight international restrictions on financial transactions aimed at combating terrorism and money laundering, which requires invoices and contracts that should clearly state the purpose for which the fund was sent to CAF before it authorized these transactions?” Bility asked in his letter.  

But few months following mounting calls for CAF to conduct an internal investigation, Bility reported that CAF had concluded finalization into Liberia’s missing US$200,000 episode, stressing that the CAF findings cleared LFA former leadership of any wrong doing.

In a social media post, Bility disclosed that CAF also established that the US$200,000 transfer was as a result of internal missteps at CAF something which was attributed to a complete financial system breakdown at the Confederation of African Football.

According to Bility, the CAF investigation further vindicated him and his former executives of masterminding the transfer or diversion of an allotted US$200,000 intended for Liberia’s football development.       

Bility further assured that CAF committed to paying back the diverted US$200,000 since its investigation confirmed that the problem was a result of an internal blunder them (CAF). Sources hinted the INQUIRER in July that CAF was to wire the money back to Liberia in two weeks but it has been two months since the investigation was concluded and no money has come to the FA.

Responding to whether CAF has provided any news on the wiring of the money, LFA Communication Director who spoke in a rather temperamental manner said “there is no news from CAF yet regarding the US$200,000.” Regarding news that the CAF investigation has been concluded and that LFA President Emeritus Bility was cleared, Director Marteh responded by saying, “Bility is a malicious liar. Bility and the LFA former Treasurer maliciously lied that CAF cleared him in the US$200,000 investigation. Let me be on record for this, quote me verbatim.”

Football pundits are wondering why up to now CAF has not wired the money back to Liberia after they admitted internal missteps.

There is a serious confusion in the minds of football pundits especially over the delay in replacing the US$200,000 considering how Liberian football needs every investment to move to the next level.

In the meantime, there is no official statement from CAF pointing to an investigation findings that clears the LFA former boss of any wrong doing. Also, the INQUIRER Newspaper is yet to lay hands on any comment or statement from CAF that they had finalized investigation into the missing US$200,000 saga.

However, Mr. Bility failed to respond to text and calls that were placed to him to authenticate claims raised by the LFA officials regarding CAF’s investigation. Bility is currently serving a 10year FIFA ban from all football activities.

Writes D. Webster Cassell