By our Staff Writer
More anger appears to be setting in amongst Liberian citizens over confusing signals being sent by the government over the fate of billions of billions of Liberian dollars officially confirmed on September 17, 2018 to have gone missing.
Ever since news of the saga broke, Liberian artists have produce songs calling for the return of the missing millions in containers and they are being aired on various local radios, thus whipping up public concerns.
The September 17, 2017 press release signed by Justice Minister, Cllr. Musah F. Dean said:
“The Ministry of Justice hereby confirms that on August 8, 2018, a special presidential investigative team, comprising investigators from the Liberia National Police (LNP), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was constituted and mandated to investigate information surrounding the arrival of containers and bags of moneys into the country by and thru the Freeport of Monrovia and the Roberts International Airport (RIA).”
Less than 24 hours later, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe furher told the Voice of America that the earlier figure of nine billion Liberian dollars was in fact understated.
He said the real figure of over US$15 billion with no trace of it and that the Liberian dollar banknotes were printing in three different countries—Sweden, Lebanon and China.
With the latest twist in the saga, with a statement from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) that no money got missing, the Coalition of Citizens United to Bring Our Money Back (COCUBOMB) is said to be planning a mass nation-wide protest.
The first of such protest was peacefully held in Monrovia last week in the Liberian capital, Monrovia when the group presented statements to the US Embassy, the UN, AU and ECOWAS. They called for suspension of assistance to the CDC government until an independent probe is conducted on the whereabouts of the missing billions.
A spokesman for COCUBOMB, Mr. Martin N.M. Kollie has said in the wake of “the CBL calculated attempt to distort the facts. We call on all Liberians to begin immediate mass mobilization for an impending nationwide protest. The prearranged press statement of CBL is a provocation to the masses.”
In a Facebook message tagged this outlet, the prominent student political activist Kollie that a formal statement from COCUBOMB will be issued shortly regarding the latest twist in the over 15 missing billions.
CBL officials addressing the press to tell them that no money is missing this week
“COCUBOMB will promptly react to CBL calculated attempt to distort the facts. We call on all Liberians to begin immediate mass mobilization for an impending nationwide protest. The prearranged press statement of CBL is a provocation to the masses.
“Deputy Governor Charles Sirleaf and Deputy Governor Mounir Siaplay who have been barred from traveling out of the Country as a result of their link to this missing L$16 billion are the ones having press conference to inform us that there is no money missing. See them in this photo during the press conference today,” Mr. Kollie said.
He said the “Bring our money back” citizens coalition “call on all Liberians to immediately begin the process of mass mobilization through community engagement for an impending mass civil action across Liberia that may last for days until this missing money is fully accounted for.”
FLASHBACK: Peaceful protesters in the first demonstration
The student activist raises a number of crucial questions regarding recent turn of events in the ongoing missing billions saga.
“How can the accused be the judge? How can the prime suspect be the one to give verdict even though investigation is ongoing? When did they get to know that the money is in the vault? CBL Press Statement is a monument of farce and fiasco,” Martin Kollie writes.
Among other questions, he asks:
“When did CBL get to know that no money is missing even though the President, Justice Minister, Information Minister, CDC Chairman, Rep. Solomon George, etc. have all said to us that money is missing? Why investigate since August 8 when you are claiming that there is no money missing?”
Prior to leaving Liberia for the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, President George Manneh Weah confirmed that a probe was underway into the disappearance of over 15 billion Liberian dollars and assured the citizens that he will get to the bottom of the saga.
Speaking upon his return from New York on Sunday, “President Weah did not take kindly critics spewing diatribes about the government in the wake of the alleged missing of billions of Liberian dollars, saying that lamentations and cheap propaganda against Government is not the solution,” and Executive Mansion press release said.
He said Liberians boast of having the brightest minds—brightest minds that have failed to find lasting remedy to the country’s development quagmire.
President Weah promised his administration’s determination to get to the bottom of the matter and allow the law to take its course if the truth is established.
“I can guaranteed you, if our international partners come and it’s discovered that something is missing, those responsible will be held accountable,” the Liberian leader said.
But less than 48 hours later, the management of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) was telling a press conference that no money was missing.