The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) says there will be a scrutiny into serious allegations regarding the involvement of certain members of the House of Representatives in acts of bribery aimed at influencing the removal of the Speaker of the House.
In a statement issued Monday, October 21, 2024, LACC Chairperson Alexandra K. Zoe said the entity is aware of sources of funding in the total amount of US$750,000.00 which was allegedly made available to the lawmakers through the accounts of the Ministry of Transport and the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) respectively.
She said LACC has received complaints from several stakeholders calling for investigation into these allegations, which if proven true, represent a grave threat to the integrity of Liberia’s legislative processes and the principles of democratic governance, saying bribery and corruption in any form undermine public confidence in elected institutions and disrupt the rule of law.
The LACC boss said the integrity institution is committed to upholding its mandate to investigate the conduct of any person irrespective of status or office if the conduct of the person constitutes acts of corruption.
She said in light of these allegations, they have initiated preliminary assessments to ascertain the facts and gather evidence, and the investigation will be carried out in collaboration with relevant institutions including the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and other integrity bodies where necessary.
“We wish to assure the public that our investigation will be conducted with utmost fairness and impartiality. We will seek to ensure that all parties involved are afforded due process, and that no premature conclusions are drawn. Our goal is to establish the facts based on evidence, and we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions if wrongdoing is uncovered,” she said.
Zoe said the LACC is dedicated to the fight against corruption and emphasized that bribery in any form is illegal and unacceptable and any individual, regardless of their position or status, found to have participated in corrupt practices will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
The LACC Chairperson calls upon all representatives, public officials and individuals who may have information relevant to this investigation to fully cooperate with its inquiries while urging the public and media to exercise patience as the LACC carries out its duties.
She said speculation and premature judgments could jeopardize the integrity of this investigation.
“The LACC remains steadfast in its mission to uphold transparency, accountability and the rule of law. These allegations, if substantiated, would signal a breach of the trust placed in elected representatives by the people of Liberia. It is our duty to ensure that this trust is restored by holding those responsible accountable,” she said. Commissioner Zoe said any proven acts of bribery or corruption will be met with the necessary legal and administrative actions.
By Tonita N. Copson
