In a 3-page letter, the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) has written the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, calling for a full-scale investigation into explosive allegations of budget manipulation, financial kickbacks, and misuse of public funds by current and former lawmakers.
The complaint, dated May 29, 2025, stems from startling revelations made by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. J. Fonati Koffa, during a widely circulated interview with the Spoon Network on October 21, 2024.
During that interview, Koffa reportedly admitted that members of the Legislature had engaged in deliberate budget inflation schemes in return for personal financial benefits.
Calling the remarks a “serious betrayal of public confidence,” the LPP said such behavior reflects the urgent need to address systemic corruption within Liberia’s governing institutions.
The party has asked the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to investigate not only the 54th Legislature but also previous legislative bodies for potential financial misconduct.
More Allegations Surface
Adding fuel to the fire, Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Korlubah made separate allegations during a live podcast on March 23, 2025.
According to Korlubah, lawmakers, including Koffa, secretly signed a resolution to collect US$750,000, allegedly provided by Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah.
The money was purportedly used to cover two months of gasoline expenses for lawmakers who supported the resolution.
The LPP said the report was “devastating,” given that lawmakers already receive operational funding through the national budget. “Such actions raise serious questions about legal legislative proceedings and reflect poorly on the integrity of our democratic institutions,” the letter stated.
Constitutional and Policy Breaches
In the letter, signed by LPP National Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza, the party asserts that these alleged practices are in violation of Article 38 of the 1986 Constitution, which outlines standards for legislative conduct and procedure.
The party also argues that the acts directly undermine Liberia’s ARREST Agenda, specifically, its pillars of good governance, transparency, and accountability.
“The agreement of secretly signing a resolution for funds to cover the personal expenses of a few did not receive the necessary consensus from all lawmakers,” the LPP stated.
It further emphasized that the transaction lacked approval from the Office of the President, compounding the constitutional concerns.
A Demand for Justice
The LPP has called for swift and impartial investigations to protect public trust and uphold democratic accountability. “Government is a place to serve, not to steal,” wrote Chairman Zaza.
The party urged the Ministry of Justice to take immediate action to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute any individuals found to be involved in corrupt practices, abuse of office, or financial mismanagement.
As of press time, the Ministry of Justice has not issued a public statement regarding the LPP’s complaint.
