Who's telling the Truth in a country where corruption breeds corruption

Acting Information Minister Cletus Sieh - May 2009
Acting Information Minister Cletus Sieh , an economics instructor at University of Liberia said the money in question was ‘drug money’ and the Liberian government used it for security purposes, a defense that many critics including opposition leaders have condemned.

Minister Sieh’s response of “Go Read Economics 204” goes directly to section of the public including some lawmakers who have questioned why was the US$0.52M not allocated in the National Budget before being used by the Executive.

“. According to the principles of economics such money does not enter or form part of the national budget. Those who are arguing should go read economics 204,” Minister Sieh told a team of journalist Saturday at his Bardnersville residence.

He claimed that the Liberian Government did not just jump into using the money, but was done in consultation with the Nigerian government who approved the use of the money.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently commented on the issue, saying, “That money is gone…” and was used on national security following consultation from Nigerian and U.S. officials.


Justice Minister Banks - January 2009
Whilst we are committed to ensuring, and wish to reiterate, that money laundering is not engaged in and that those engaged in such activity should be prosecuted to the fullest, we concur with our officials that as there is no connection between the funds and the money laundering, the funds should be released . We concur with the recommendations and request therefore that the seized funds be released to Mr. Ayika, subject to the CBL deducting the 25% penalty prescribed by its regulation.

Mills Jones, Governor Central Bank of Liberia went on to explain that the Justice Minister’s letter of January 23, 2009 requested the Central Bank of Liberia to return the US$508,000 belonging to the Nigerian, citing that investigators found no reason why the money should be held.


May 2009
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said “the money was used for security based on much consultation by others who advised that “drug money for security.”

May 2009
Rep. Moses Tarnukollie said, :You unauthorisedly used money belonging to a priviate individual on covert security operations and try to justify that it was legal and right. Why were you prosecuting Gyude Bryant and others for using Government money for the same purpose? At least, Gyude was using government money for government purpose, yet you were prosecuting him and others. Why? Translated by Pokopu

I think the GOL did the right thing here. They are just not explaining themselves very well.

Traveller wrote:

I think the GOL did the right thing here. They are just not explaining themselves very well.

Over controversial US$500,000: Nigeria's position contradicts Justice Minister Banks

Written by Matthias Daffah
Friday, 08 May 2009

Document obtained by Star Radio reveals the position of the Nigerian Government when the controversial half a million U.S. dollars was seized in Liberia.]

An official letter from the Attorney General of Nigeria at the time called for the immediate release of the money to facilitate the prosecution of the suspect.

Liberian state security on September 10, 2006 arrested Nigerian businessman Valentine Akiya on charges of money laundering and drug-trafficking.

The official letter from the Nigerian Attorney General followed the deportation of the Nigerian businessman for prosecution in Nigeria after the money was seized. In the letter, Chief Bayo Ojo acknowledged receipt of the expelled businessman from Liberia for detailed investigation and prosecution in Nigeria.

In the February 6, 2007 letter, Chief Ojo informed the Justice Minister of Liberia that the absence of the money as evidence was stalling the investigation.

The Nigerian Justice Minister also called for the release of all relevant documents into previous investigation conducted by Liberian state security. On the contrary, the Liberian government maintained it was authorized by Nigerian authorities to use the over half of million U.S. dollars on security.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Lawyer Cllr. Dempster Brown says he has prepared a petition to take the Liberian Government to court to compel it restitute the money.

Also, Justice Minister Phillip Banks has submitted his written response on the use of the over half a million US dollars seized from a Nigerian. Minister Banks formally made his presentation Friday to a Joint House Committee investigating the use of the controversial money.

The submission followed a request by the House Committees on National Security, Judiciary, Banking and Currency. Our Legislative reporter says the content of Minister Bank’s official report on the expenditure of the money was not revealed to journalists.

The Joint House Investigative Panel would review the submission of Minister Banks for questioning by next week. The investigation by the Joint Committee followed a letter by Montserrado Representative Moses Tandanpoli, questioning the usage of the money.

Representative Tandanpolie argued that the Justice Minister violated the Constitution by using such a huge sum of money without Legislation.

It really doesn't matter what teh Nigerian government says on this matter through its representative. Was the $500k official Nigerian funds? If so why were the bills strapped to the body of this man??? Governemnts are well within their rights to confiscate or seize property that they have a reasonable cause to believe may be or have been used unlawfully. When I travel out of the US and return, if I do not declare that I have $20k on my person and the customs officers subsequently discovers this fact, I'll have to surrender those assets. When I was in the Army, we seized property from folks at the border ports (in California) all the time. In the US, goverment forfeiture laws give law enforcement widespread authority to seize property when these kind of suspicions exist. And, when property is seized, the funds ALWAYS go to supporting local law enforcement. I think the GOL was doing the same thing. The problem as I see it is that the government is doing a bad job of explaining what was essentially a good move on their part. There is a reason why you never hear about hese stories here in the US event though they happen EVERY DAY.

Traveller wrote:

It really doesn't matter what teh Nigerian government says on this matter through its representative. Was the $500k official Nigerian funds? If so why were the bills strapped to the body of this man??? Governemnts are well within their rights to confiscate or seize property that they have a reasonable cause to believe may be or have been used unlawfully. When I travel out of the US and return, if I do not declare that I have $20k on my person and the customs officers subsequently discovers this fact, I'll have to surrender those assets. When I was in the Army, we seized property from folks at the border ports (in California) all the time. In the US, goverment forfeiture laws give law enforcement widespread authority to seize property when these kind of suspicions exist. And, when property is seized, the funds ALWAYS go to supporting local law enforcement. I think the GOL was doing the same thing. The problem as I see it is that the government is doing a bad job of explaining what was essentially a good move on their part. There is a reason why you never hear about hese stories here in the US event though they happen EVERY DAY.

Traveler my brother, you’re so right - this is an internal matter, so why did the Liberian government had to obtain the approval of the Nigerian government in this matter. This is about credibility, and the horrible history of massive corruption in Liberia. The more these folks talk, the more they lose credibility with the masses. It’s isn’t the actual crime my brother, but the cover-up.

communications strategy for GOL...i will pay..and please don't tell me lawrence bropleh

Traveler, same argument I am offering, but some are saying that the govt should have let the man have his day in court instead of just unceremonously deporting him without a hearing.

gadyu wrote:

Traveler, same argument I am offering, but some are saying that the govt should have let the man have his day in court instead of just unceremonously deporting him without a hearing.

He is not entitled to "his day in court" as he is not a citizen of Liberia. As such, at international borders, you simply deport someone like that. What the GOL should have done was to confiscate his cash and deport him right away. We did it all the time when I was in the military. I saw luxury yachts, cash, jewelry, antiques, and cars get seized within minutes.

Well, exactly the point. But why is it then that the government is not effectively countering all this noise about nothing?

i guess they are being advise or scare that Nigeria will cry foal and probably do same to a Liberian in the same predicament. which is really what should happen.

Nigeria and the US were appraised of the situation and offered advise on the confiscation of the money and the deportation of the launderer.

gadyu wrote:

Well, exactly the point. But why is it then that the government is not effectively countering all this noise about nothing?

I wish I knew too. I once saw a little over $150,000 and two rare albino tiger puppies confiscated at the San Ysidro border port in California. The courier had a Bolivian passport and he was deported back to Mexico but the cash and the tigers stayed.

Bingo, Traveller. I have been trying to explain this same thing, but apparently everybody know suntin bout suntin these days, and most of them waiting for government to slip as opposed to making sure the govt does the right things.

They should research more...