By Precious D. Freeman
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT), dismissing a petition filed by Gracious Ride that challenged the constitutionality of the team’s mandate.
The ruling effectively clears the way for the task force to resume its operations in tracing and reclaiming assets allegedly acquired through corrupt means.
Gracious Ride’s management had argued that Executive Order No. 126, which established AREPT, was unconstitutional and an overreach of executive authority.
However, in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the legitimacy of the task force, ruling that the petitioner lacked standing to challenge the executive order on behalf of third parties.
The court ruled that Gracious Ride failed to meet the burden of proof to demonstrate that Executive Order No. 126 was unconstitutional.
In its decision, the court reaffirmed the government’s authority to establish such a task force to investigate and recover state assets obtained illegally.
With this ruling, the nine-month legal stay on AREPT’s operations has been lifted, allowing the task force to move forward with its investigations.
Following the ruling, AREPT released a statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability.
The task force emphasized that it had complied with the Supreme Court’s stay order over the past nine months and would now fully implement its mandate.
“AREPT is committed to ensuring that government resources are utilized for the benefit of all citizens. Every asset recovered brings us one step closer to restoring public trust and dignity,” the statement read.
The task force revealed that it has already identified 17 high-profile cases involving stolen assets, including liquid and fixed assets, suspicious property acquisitions, and money laundering.
It urged the public to report any suspicious assets, including stolen government vehicles and illegally obtained properties.
With its mandate reaffirmed, AREPT is expected to issue notices for investigations, calling on individuals of interest to appear for questioning.
The task force warned that refusal to comply with its summons would result in legal action, including formal charges and possible prosecution.
AREPT also disclosed that during the nine-month legal stay, some individuals attempted to hide or transfer assets, including smuggling government vehicles out of Liberia, altering property deeds, and laundering money through fake companies.
The task force assured the public that its surveillance and intelligence units had documented these activities and would pursue legal action against those involved.
AREPT encouraged Liberians to participate in its efforts by reporting suspected cases of asset theft and corruption.
The task force reassured the public that all reports would be treated with confidentiality, emphasizing that fighting corruption was crucial for Liberia’s development.
“This is a wake-up call for all Liberians. The theft of public resources has hindered our nation’s progress for too long. The full weight of the law will be applied to those responsible,” the statement concluded. With the Supreme Court’s backing, AREPT is set to aggressively pursue its mission of asset recovery, ensuring that public resources are used for the benefit of all Liberians.
