A serious corruption scandal has erupted within the Liberia National Lottery Authority (LNLA), as its Director General Reginald K. Nagbe, prepares to exit next month.
Allegations of financial misconduct and mismanagement, including the disappearance of the institution’s vehicles, have all surfaced, prompting calls for an investigation into the operations of the lottery authority.
Information gathered also suggested serious financial irregularities, leading to various accounts of the authority to be allegedly depleted at the detriment of the institution, sending shock waves across the institution.
An insider revealed that, “Huge cash is being allegedly taken from some of the accounts. But you know this man has about a month or less to be here. So, you should know what I am talking about and we hope that care be taken now to curtail future damages.”
Not only that, but Mr. Nagbe has also been accused of violating the Code of Conduct due to his public involvement in political activities when he openly campaigned for former President George Weah’s CDC during the 2023 Presidential elections.
The report has since ignited a firestorm of controversy, with various civil society organizations and political figures demanding accountability and transparency from the country’s lottery authority.
Mr. Nagbe was nominated by then-President George Weah as Director General of the NLA on June 14, 2021 and subsequently confirmed in July, 2021
On July 19, 2021, President Weah then wrote Nagbe saying, “I am pleased to advise that based upon notification from the Liberian Senate of your confirmation, you are hereby appointed Director General, National Lottery Authority, Liberia, effective Thursday, July 15, 2021.”
However, this latest allegation followed after it was reported by a local newspaper (Heritage Newspaper) last year that anonymous sources within the NLA leaked documents showed only weeks before the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai, a letter of intent was sent to NLA requesting a casino license and an alleged quick process of approval commenced.
It further reported that Director Nagbe, realizing his time of uncertainty, allegedly began the process to issue a casino license to Platinum Entertainment Incorporated (now located in Congo Town) just before the change of Administration.
That on January 11, 2024, Ms. Vivian Tan of Platinum Entertainment sent a letter of intent to Mr. Nagbe expressing interest in obtaining a license stating that Platinum Entertainment “has the necessary experience and expertise” needed. Unfortunately, Platinum Entertainment did not legally exist in Liberia until its filing date on January 18th 2024.
The NLA was established by an Act of the Legislature on March 6, 2015, to regulate all games of chance within the country and generate revenue for social development programs.
As being supervised by the office of the Vice President, NLA is to cater to and support social development initiatives, including funding education for disabled students, coupled with the sponsorship of sporting activities across Liberia.
Contrary to its statutory structure, the NLA has, over time, been reported in the media to have some dubious transactions taking place, especially as the head of the entity’s tenure is about to expire.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nagbe has since vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that they are part of a calculated effort to tarnish his hard-earned reputation despite serving his country with integrity and sincerity over the years.
Nagbe maintained that he has overseen a period of significant growth for the LNLA, with increased revenue generation and expanded outreach programs aimed at promoting responsible gaming.
In a telephone call and WhatsApp message, Mr. Nagbe said, “Please don’t call me again for such unscrupulous information. Go ahead and publish your story as you received it from your so-called informant. I have no interest in it. I served my country very well.”
He explained, “Since my appointment to the NLA, I was able to augment the institution’s budget to over US$5 million, and my leadership even bought all of those cars for Lottery. I served that institution with distinction and sincerity.
“As of now, my car is down and in the garage, and I have not even bought a new car, let alone run away with cars. They have done a series of audits on my leadership and found nothing.
So, go ahead and publish the story, and I will go to court so you can tell me who gave the information. Tell the person that they are stupid and that the information is a sheer nonsense. If they don’t have integrity, I have integrity. I’m not going to fall for that crap,” he added.
Meanwhile, the timing of the allegations is particularly notable, as Nagbe’s tenure is set to expire in just few months, with some Liberians suggesting that they may be politically motivated, aimed at discrediting Nagbe ahead of a potential reappointment or new leadership transition.
Others have described the allegations as grave and a need for a comprehensive audit and investigation, pointing out that the lottery authority has often been a focal point for political maneuverings, given its financial significance and the potential for patronage.
As Liberians struggle with these latest developments, the outcome of any potential investigation will likely have far-reaching implications for the NLA and the broader landscape of public trust in government institutions.
