The Association’s President, Cllr. Karnuah’s Trouble Deepens, As Some Prosecutors Take Him To Task
More Questions Than Answers
PHOTO: Cllr. Karnuah, President of the Prosecutors of Liberia
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- State Prosecutors continue to be in the news for the wrong reason—fallout from alleged misappropriation of US$150,000.00 money disbursed for the Charloe Musu murder trial.
Days after Cllr. Adolphus Karnuah was implicated into the US$150 prosecution money, the National Association of Prosecution of Liberia is demanding accountability of Karnuah’s steamship.
The prosecution fund was intended to prosecute those who allegedly murdered Charloe Musu, but the County Swahilo Sesay claimed that Cllr. Karnuah and several other prosecutors misapplied the funds.
Meanwhile, when Cllr. Karnuah was questioned during a press conference as to how much he received from the prosecution fund of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott murder trial but he admitted to US7,000 as legitimate benefits but claimed that actual money was US130,000.
According to the Association, since his rise to the Presidency of the Association for the past five years, he has refused to account for funds deducted from their salaries.
“The leadership of the Association headed by Cllr. Karnuah refused to make report of how the Association funds were expended,“ the aggrieved prosecutors claimed.
The group also accused Cllr. Karnuah of refusing to make a full scale report on the association money deducted from the little info despite several requests for him to do so since 2019. Cllr. Karnuah took over from Cllr. Jerry Garlawolu in 2019 after Cllr. Garlawolu resigned after he was appointed by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, but his colleagues are now demanding accountability, transparency and integrity.
According to prosecutors, Karnuah’s tenure expired since 2020 but he has the organization under house stage by refusing to call for a fresh election. However, Cllr. Karnuah in the prosecution chat room accused his secretary Cllr. Lafayette Gould of undermining the association financial status.
Recently, the membership called a meeting, whereby Cllr. Karnuah was forced to set up an election commission, so election will be held in April 2024. Below is a screenshot of arguments between Cllr. Gould and Cllr. Karnuah.
The Prosecutors Association’s President has clarified that he’s not signatory to the account but claimed that it Cllr. Deddeh Wilson Jomah, Cllr. Massayan Matthew among others. Cllr. Karnuah added that he took over 2022 instead of 2019.
According to him, he has set up time for election which is slated for April this year. He disclosed that he can’t do deductions of prosecutors due from their salaries but rather the controller at the Ministry of Justice.
Another County Attorney said, if Cllr. Karnuah is saying that he’s not signatory to the account but how money been leaving the account when one person can’t withdraw without the other?
The source said that the road leading to the conduct of the election is being seen amidst pressure from prosecutors. Further, money was deducted from our salaries for the Liberian National Bar Association due when the Justice Ministry is paying their Bar due. Cllr. Karnuah will be audited and prosecuted after the election for misappropriating our Association funds.