President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., signed a directive mandating all appointed government officials to comply with the Declaration of Assets requirements as outlined in the 2014 Code of Conduct.
Despite repeated calls for compliance, several officials have failed to declare their assets within the required timeframe, contravening Article 2, Section 10.2(h) of the Act to Amend Section 5.2 and Section 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct.
The law stipulates: that “an official appointed by the President shall declare his/her assets no later than 30 days after appointment. Failure to comply shall result in immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.”
Failure to adhere to this directive undermines the core principles of good governance and public accountability.
The suspended Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Atty. Steven Zargo did obey this order on grounds that said information on his assets will go public.
He was later suspended by His Excellency, Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia on November 13, 2024 for a period of three consecutive months without pay and instructed to turn over all assets belonging to the Liberian Government to the Acting Commissioner General, Hon. Elijah F. Rufus, something he refused to adhere to till date, and that he is still in possession of the office keys and a white Toyota Hilux Pick-Up, according to an inside source.
Therefore, when Atty. Zargo realized that his suspension was nearing its end, we have obtained a document that he did his Assets Declaration on December 20, 2024 which was reportedly delivered by one Francis Blessing Slebo of the Liberia Immigration Service whom he appointed as Chief of the Immigration Support Unit (ISU).
But, questions are being raised on the authenticity of said document and Assets Declaration as the time the declaration was filed, Zargo was undergoing suspension which was effected on November 13, 2024, raising concerns over his apparent desperation to return to the post.
Looking at his Assets Declaration form submitted to Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Assets Declaration & Verification Officer, Patricia P. Barnaby‘s signature is affixed on his form but the LACC stamp used by Madam Barnaby is not indicated on it.
For instance, we retrieved the case of Mr. Mohammed Maladho Bah dated February 13, 2025, where the Assets Declaration & Verification Officer Barnaby affixed her signature twice; her second signature is on the stamp of the LACC, something that should warrant the Authority of the LACC to conduct an investigation as to whether this document is forged which is criminal in nature.
In a related development, sources at the LIS have informed this paper that the suspended Commissioner General Zargo entered the headquarters of the entity on Sunday, February 9, 2025 after 5:00 pm along with the current Chief of the Immigration Support Unit, Officer Francis Blessing Slebo, the current Chief of Finance, Jacob Jallah, among others, and had a long meeting in the office of the Chief of Finance. This is happening when he is still serving his suspension term.
