A former Executive Director of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) continue to accuse heads of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) of undermining the independence of the INCHR.
He said the allegation of “media attacks” is a subterfuge to evade the issue of corruption and the undermining of the INCHR by those misrepresenting the OHCHR in Liberia.
On October 12, 2022, the INCHR, issued a press statement alleging “media attacks” on the Country Representative of the OHCHR, Uchenna Emelonye, his Deputy, Sonny Onyegbula and its Commissioner Mohammed Fahnbulleh.
However, Mr. Heron Gbidi described the press statement as “A pathetic display of mental subjugation and cowardice in a theatrical puppetry manipulated by the two Nigerian mafias, Emelonye and Onyebula.”
He pointed out that the Inquirer’s October 5, 2022 publication referenced by the Uchenna scripted INCHR press statement was a reaction to the OHCHR’s manipulation of Fahmbulleh to impeach the credibility of the INCHR by amplifying baseless allegations of corruption in both print and electronic media at a time when the INCHR is defending its status “A” accreditation (GANHRI).
“While I made attempts in my article published on October 5, 2022 to deal with Mohammed the puppet, I also tried to expose the motives of his masters beating the drum and pulling the strings to undermine the INCHR and by extension, Liberia. Fearing the repercussion by the OHCHR, Emelonye has indulged in the unethical act of influencing his contacts in government to coerce the INCHR to dismiss my allegations as “baseless” and “without evidence,” Gbidi explained.
Mr. Gbidi who is convinced said the latest orchestration by Emelonye and Oyegbulla intends to shield them from a probe by the OHCHR and of course, cow the media noting, “Their disreputable dealings are unrepresentative of the OHCHR and the tenets and principles of the human rights community.”
Mr. Gbidi wondered why a representative of one of the most reputable global institutions will want to incapacitate and render useless the INCHR contrary to its mission of capacity strengthening.
The former ED argued that the drive to shield themselves from accountability has created a logjam in the mission to strengthen the capacity of the INCHR and called on the Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs and other government institutions to review the audit report of the General Auditing Agency, GAC and take action.
“It is important that the Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs, the Legislature and the media take interest in what has already been documented by the GAC.
On August 4, 2017 the Government of Liberia signed a Host Country Agreement for the presence of the OHCHR in Liberia following the departure of UNMIL human rights section with a commitment US$4.9M from the EU-Liberia Dialogue/Swedish to strengthen the Capacity of INCHR.
Following the agreement, Emelonye was assigned as Country Representative and the return of Onyegbula as his deputy.
Mr. Onyegbula had previously served with UNMIL as P4 Rule of Law Advisor.
“Apparently triggered by greed and the intent to loot, Onyegbula took a demotion from P4 in South Sudan to join his kinsman in Liberia as P3 and as expected, the Swedish grant of $4.9M was accessed by the duo through the proposal “Strengthening the capacity of the INCHR,” Mr. Gbidi revealed.
Accordingly to him, the INCHR supported the funding request through a memorandum of understanding with the OHCHR office in Liberia pointing out, “It was insisted by the Acting Chairperson that accountability be inserted as core principle in the final MoU.”
“The project execution began in 2018 but by the close of 2019 the walls of the INCHR began to collapse and the seeds of discord was planted and nourished by the mafia Nigerian duo,” he said.
The former ED furthered that toward the close of 2019, the INCHR represented by the then acting Chairperson Rev. Bartholomew Colley requested a review of the project on strengthening the capacity of the INCHR. Onyegbula representing Emelonye out rightly rejected the call for project review.
“And what followed thereafter was a twin attack influenced by Mr. Emelonye and coconspirator Mr. Onyegbula was unleashed against the INCHR; first, the majority commissioners issued a vote of no confidence to oust out the Vice/Acting Chairperson and the second was an audit influenced by the duo to impeach the financial management credibility of the INCHR.
He asserted that although the INCHR act provides for a GAC and not an IAA audit, the INCHR complied believing that it was a Presidential commissioned audit. It is important to note, that audit report was never concluded as it did not incorporate the INCHR response to their findings.
In a related development, Mohammed had allegedly threatened to kill Mr. Gbidi a text message sent on October 15, 2022.
“Oldman, I am waiting your arrival in Liberia, there and then, we will know who the man is. The day you touch this soil, you will know me well. If you ever go back to America, change my name,” human rights commissioner Fahnbulleh threatened.
