TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia —Two employees of the Afriland Bank have been charged and forwarded to court over multiple charges for alleged financial crime in Liberia, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
Authorities are presing charges against a local banker accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme involving over $165,000.
G. Rufus Togba, a 38-year-old banker and former Branch Manager at Afriland First Bank Liberia Ltd., is at the center of the scandal.
According to a police charge sheet issued by the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) of the Liberia National Police, Togba is facing several charges including theft of property, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, and money laundering.
The investigation stems from a formal complaint filed on November 22, 2024, by Afriland Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Robert Nkous, who alerted authorities about suspected fraudulent activities involving one of the bank’s own staffers. The allegations suggest that Togba, using his position within the bank, committed financial crimes between November 22, 2022, and December 2025.
The complaint was forwarded to the Inspector General of Police, Hon. Gregory O. W. Coleman, and taken up by the FCID. As the inquiry deepened, Afriland Bank submitted further evidence on December 19, 2024, revealing that several of the bank’s customers had also been affected.
Among the victims named were Associate Builders & Contractors, GEOSKOPE LTD, and MY Sportswear — all reportedly defrauded under schemes linked to Mr. Togba.
The accused was arrested on December 16, 2024, by Chief Inspector Michael C. Swen. He is currently charged under case number CSD/FCID/0028/05/25 and remains under investigation as prosecutors build their case.
Investigators found that Afriland First Bank Liberia Ltd. had a structured credit committee in place. This committee, composed of senior bank officials including CEO Mr. Robert Nkous, held sole authority to approve fund transfers from any collateral account — including the contractors. All transactions required a formal sitting of the committee, documented minutes, and a thorough due diligence process before approval.
The due diligence, as outlined in the findings, involved verifying that the account holder — in this case, the contractor — had fulfilled all loan obligations and completed the agreed-upon portion of their contract with the Ministry. Only when these conditions were met could a manual ticket be initiated to begin the transfer of funds.
This tightly controlled process was designed to ensure financial discipline, but it has now become the focus of scrutiny. Investigators are examining whether these protocols were strictly followed, or if there were breaches that led to unauthorized or premature withdrawals.
While no official charges have been announced, the investigation signals potential issues in contract execution, loan management, and oversight of public funds.
Additionally, a larger theft of US100,000 from Afriland First Bank was traced to a broader group including Jimmy Elomo, Samuel Dewalt, and others.
While some defendants were charged in person, others — including Abdul Wase Jah Jr., Titus Weah Yomi, and SEH OCTABIOUS — were charged in absentia and remain at large. Investigators confirmed that the component of the case linked to GESCOPE remains open, as there is still insufficient evidence to charge.
The document was signed and approved by high-ranking officers including CIP Michael C. Sweh, ACP James H. Deshield III, and DCP G. Alvin James, signaling that the Liberia National Police is taking the matter seriously.
As the case proceeds, it is expected to send strong ripples through the financial and public sectors, highlighting the country’s growing focus on anti-corruption enforcement.