Margibi County Senator Nathaniel F. McGill has disclosed that he will on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 submit a formal communication to the Senate Plenary, urging the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch an immediate investigation into allegations of fraud, abuse of power, and corruption involving the Minister of Commerce Amin Modad.
Senator McGill in a Facebook post said the investigation should determine how the minister, who served as a board member, failed to settle a debt of $400,000 owed to the former FI Bank (now SIB). He said the failure to pay the debt contributed to the bank’s bankruptcy, but the minister was able to acquire a yacht comparable in cost to the one purchased by Former President Tubman.
The Margibi County Senator said the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) illegally purchased a vehicle for Modad, and the LRA as a revenue collection agency, has no mandate to buy vehicles for government officials.
But Commerce Minister Modad in response said, these are mere accusations, and the senator was shifting focus from his own controversial past, including his placement on a U.S. sanctions list for alleged corruption and human rights abuses.
“I saw Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill’s post. It’s sad,” Minister Modad said. “Search both our names and see who is on sanctions and has dirt on their integrity. His name is linked to everything wrong with the last administration—from corruption and human rights issues to poor governance and ineptitude.”
Minister Modad rejected any personal wrongdoing, emphasizing that the vehicle in question was purchased for the Ministry of Commerce, with payments made directly to the vendor and no funds passing through his ministry or personal accounts.
“The vehicle was not custom-made and was certainly not purchased for $150,000 as has been falsely claimed. I’ve been using my personal vehicles, including an S-Class Mercedes, since I took office eight months ago, and I cover the costs of fuel and my driver’s salary myself,” Minister Modad said.
“I was amongst the first ministers to declare my assets on April 11, detailing assets exceeding $15 million and a net worth of over $8 million. My declaration included a boat—not to be confused with a ‘yacht’. By the grace of God, I have been successful even before entering government and I have owned multiple boats in Liberia since 2010,” he said.
Minister Modad said his integrity is intact and commitment unwavering, haven’t been a successful businessman for more than 25 years, and there are available public records that he has owned boats, a beautiful home, and luxury cars for decades, before becoming a Minister. Modad said that photos being posted portraying the vehicle in question, “are in fact photos of former US President Trump’s vehicle.”
