By Precious D. Freeman
“We are prepared to defend ourselves against any allegations,” the Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill has finally submitted himself to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (LACC) investigation.
“The practice of supplementary payrolls is a long-standing tradition and continues to this day,” McGill stated while instructing his legal team to withdraw a Writ of Prohibition filed with the Supreme Court, clearing the way for the LACC to continue its investigation into an alleged payroll padding during his tenure as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
McGill, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for corruption, had previously sought to block the LACC’s inquiry into the establishment of a supplementary payroll under former President George Weah’s administration.
His legal team argued that the payroll was legally established within the Ministry of State’s budgetary allocation and did not contravene Civil Service Agency (CSA) regulations.
The defense claimed that the practice of supplementary payrolls was a longstanding governmental tradition and that McGill, as a minister, was merely implementing a presidential directive.
They also cited presidential immunity under Article 61 of the 1986 Constitution, which they argued shielded McGill’s actions from legal scrutiny.
According to McGill’s argument, all official acts performed under the President’s directive, including payroll management, fall under Executive privilege and should not be investigated by the LACC or any other entity.
McGill contended that such Executive actions are constitutionally immune from investigation or prosecution.
Legal experts, however, questioned whether presidential immunity applied to actions relative to corruption investigations; suggesting that such immunity might not extend to illegal activities.
Despite these arguments, McGill has now decided to withdraw the Writ, signaling his readiness to face the LACC’s investigation; emphasizing that the establishment of supplementary payrolls is not criminal and reaffirmed his belief that no legal lines were crossed during his tenure.
This development follows McGill’s recent appearance before the LACC, where he addressed concerns regarding the supplementary payroll.
