By Bill W. Cooper
The government, through the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT), has invited two senior forensic experts from FTI Consulting to assist in tracing and recovering assets acquired through illicit means.
Andrew Durant and Wayne Anthony arrived on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to support AREPT in investigating misappropriated public funds and properties, as well as strengthen its fight against corruption.
According to a statement issued by AREPT, the visit is also intended to boost Liberia’s capacity to track down stolen assets, and comes at no cost to the government, as Durant and Anthony have offered to conduct an initial two-week case assessment free of charge, demonstrating FTI Consulting’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts.
FTI Consulting is internationally recognized for its expertise in forensic investigations, asset tracing, and financial fraud detection, and the firm has successfully assisted governments, central banks, and financial institutions in uncovering and repatriating stolen funds in several countries, including Nigeria, one of the largest asset recovery cases in Africa.
Andrew Durant, a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, leads the firm’s Forensic Accounting Services across London, the Middle East, and Africa.
With over 30 years of experience, he has worked on major investigations into financial fraud, corruption, bribery, and asset misappropriation across Africa, Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Durant is recognized as a leader in forensic accounting and asset tracing by Who’s Who Legal and Chambers.
Wayne Anthony, an expert in forensic accounting and fraud investigations, has more than 25 years of experience leading high-profile asset-tracing projects.
His work has spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Iraq, as he previously managed FTI Consulting’s forensic accounting practice in the UAE and played a crucial role in major financial fraud and asset misappropriation investigations.
It can be recalled that the AREPT was set up to lead Liberia’s efforts in tracing, recovering, and prosecuting cases involving illegally acquired public assets, as the task force operates under Executive Order No. 145, signed by President Joseph Boakai, reinforcing the government’s stance on corruption and accountability.
AREPT, under the leadership of Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, is responsible for investigating and retrieving both fixed and liquid assets misappropriated by current and former officials, and the task force plays a vital role in ensuring that recovered funds and properties are reinvested into national development, benefiting the Liberian people.
Liberia has long struggled with financial mismanagement, and past efforts at asset recovery have often been slow and ineffective. However, the arrival of these international forensic experts signals a renewed push for transparency and accountability.
With their extensive experience in cross-border investigations, Durant and Anthony are expected to strengthen Liberia’s asset recovery efforts, helping to track down hidden wealth and hold corrupt actors accountable.
AREPT, through its Cllr. Martin added that he, along with his team, looks forward to working closely with FTI Consulting to ensure that stolen assets are identified, recovered, and returned to the Liberian people.