By Bill W. Cooper
Supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) led by all-former officials in the Weah-led administration showcased a violent scene yesterday as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) began a process of questioning sanctioned Nathaniel Falo McGill about his corruption allegations.
Apparently, the attitude led by the former Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Affair Samoro Wolokollie, former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmo and the former Assistant Minister for Research and Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture, Alvin Wesseh along with their thugs chanting slogans and making defaming comments was ignited by their former leader McGill who stands accused of corruption and payroll paddling, yet making the process appear political.
McGill has always challenged anyone including the United States and Liberian governments to investigate him and that he was prepared to provide proof of his non-involvement in corruption therefore many who followed closely thought the invitation by the LACC would begin the process to witness McGill exonerate himself.
Instead, McGill, a close ally of former President George Weah, a day before the hearing, took to his Facebook and posted what appeared an alert to his CDC/NPP supporters who in turn trooped at the premises of the LACC early morning before the accused’s arrival and remained there until the hearing was over; holding banners and making derogatory comments claiming that the allegations against him (McGill) are politically motivated, aim at tarnishing his reputation.
On his official Facebook page, McGill posted, “In light of our unwavering stance against bad governance and the government’s unsuccessful attempts to silence our voice, we have received formal communication from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).”
He asserted, “They have requested my presence to provide information that will assist in their ongoing investigation into allegations of payroll padding and corruption related to salary payments on a Supplementary Payroll containing 728 names at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.”
“As public servants committed to transparency and accountability, no amount of allegations can deter or silence us. We remain resilient in our advocacy for transparency and accountability, and we will continue to stand firm in our efforts to ensure that good governance prevails,” the Senator added.
However, the Margibi County Senator fully clad with US sanction for series of corruption scandals, made his first appearance at the LACC over allegations of payroll padding and corruption during his tenure at the Ministry of State.
Accompanied by a team of legal representatives under the leadership of another clothed US sanctioned corrupt lawyer Sayma Syrenius Cephus, who like McGill, has been disconnected from anything that concerns the American Government for their alleged involvement in corruption and other crimes in Liberia.
McGill appeared before the LACC due to allegations of corruption while he served at the Ministry of State in the Weah-led government; an accusation he continues to deny; maintaining his innocence with a promised to clear his name in court or before any investigation.
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in its communication to the CDC Legislative Caucus chairperson, the LACC communication alleged that the payroll was even created outside the framework of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and under McGill’s directive during his time as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
The LACC also stated that the 728 names supplementary payroll was allegedly established under McGill’s instructions and was marred by irregularities, amounting to payroll administrative malpractice and corruption.
The letter added, “Given your position as Minister of State at the time, the LACC believes that you could provide useful information to aid this investigation.”
Senator McGill, heavily guided by security personnel, then appeared before the LACC on August 21, 2014, along with his team of lawyers to begin the process which commenced behind closed doors.
However, the Margibi County Senator summoned comes amidst a damning audit report release by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) on various government Ministries and Agencies.
The GAC, in its audit report revealed that there was no evidence that the Ministry of State developed policies to regulate the hiring and management of supplementary personnel.
The report also disclosed that 739 staff members were listed under the supplementary payroll, with an annual salary expense of US$2,622,060, more than 50 percent higher than the total salary expense for regular staff.
According to the GAC, there was no evidence that the Ministry budgeted and reported the salaries of supplementary personnel as a unique line item in the approved budget and financial/expenditure reports.
It add, “Instead, the salaries were financed by reallocating funds from other budget items, including consultancy fees, without the required approval from the Deputy Minister of Budget and the Civil Service Agency.”
The audit report further found documentation gaps in the personnel files for the supplementary staff, with missing documents, including employment contracts, employee identification numbers, CVs, terms of reference, police clearances, and copies of credentials or qualifications for numerous employees, highlighting that 235 out of 392 requested files were not provided for review.
The GAC at the same time warned the failure to develop, approve, and implement policies to regulate the hiring and management of supplementary personnel could lead to arbitrary decisions, non-compliance with applicable laws, and impaired achievement of the Ministry’s objectives.
However, McGill confirmed following the meeting that he had gone at the LACC in relations to an invitation sent him by the LACC to assist with ongoing investigation of payroll padding and corruption at the Ministry of State.
McGill’s lead lawyer Cephas said, “Sen. McGill is a strong fighter who believes in fighting corruption. That is why he came here. The process was misdirected at him.”
It can be recalled that McGill and Cllr. Cephas were all sanctioned by the U.S government in 2020 for corruption and McGill’s sanction was based on allegations that he engaged in bribery, received kickbacks for steering contracts to companies in which he held an interest, and manipulated public procurement processes to award multi-million-dollar contracts to these companies.
The U.S. also accused McGill of involvement in various other corrupt schemes, including soliciting bribes from government office seekers, misappropriating government assets for personal gain, and using government’s funds for his own projects.
He also allegedly made off-the-books cash payments to senior government leaders and organized warlords to threaten political rivals, thus leading him and other sanctioned officials to forcefully resign from government.
Although the current LACC investigation is not directly connected to the U.S. sanctions, many Liberians including CSOs view it as a positive development that could lead to holding McGill and other officials accused of corruption accountable.
