MONROVIA, Liberia — James Spriggs Payne Airport (JSPA) Port Manager Abner Yonly faces serious governance and accountability questions over allegations of an unauthorized US$40 million funding request, questionable banking arrangements, possible financial transactions outside established procedures, and alleged defiance of an administrative directive.
A Verity News investigation has uncovered a series of concerns reportedly submitted to the LAA Board of Directors for review and possible administrative action, placing Yonly’s exercise of authority, financial accountability, and compliance with the Authority’s management structure under scrutiny.
The allegations raise a fundamental question: Did Yonly exercise his responsibilities within the limits of his delegated authority, or did he bypass established approval procedures and the LAA leadership?
Verity News reviewed an internal communication outlining the concerns, which include a reported request for approximately US$40 million from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, alleged banking arrangements made without appropriate authorization, possible solicitation or receipt of funds outside approved financial procedures, and a disputed personnel directive involving three security officers.
At the center of the controversy is a reported request for approximately US$40 million from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for the operations and development of JSPA.
Information reviewed by Verity News alleges that the request was submitted without the prior knowledge, review, approval, or authorization of the LAA Managing Director and senior management.
If confirmed, the circumstances surrounding the request could raise significant questions about the authority under which the airport’s management pursued substantial public funding and whether the appropriate institutional approval processes were followed.
The investigation therefore focuses not only on the reported amount but also on the process through which the request was allegedly pursued.
Beyond the reported funding request, concerns have also been raised about bank accounts allegedly established or maintained on behalf of JSPA without authorization from the LAA’s senior leadership.
The internal communication further alleges that funds may have been solicited or received from external entities outside the Authority’s approved financial management and reporting procedures.
Nevertheless, the allegations warrant scrutiny because they concern the financial controls governing a public institution and the authority to establish accounts, solicit funding, receive payments, and account for money associated with airport operations.
The central question is whether the reported financial activities were properly authorized and documented or whether established controls were bypassed.
Yonly is also accused of failing to comply with a management directive reportedly issued on July 6, 2026, by the Office of the LAA Managing Director.
According to the internal communication reviewed by Verity News, the directive ordered the reassignment of three security officers from Roberts International Airport (RIA) to JSPA.
The communication alleges that Yonly declined to accept the officers and did not implement the instruction as directed.
If substantiated, the incident could raise questions about the chain of command and the extent to which a Port Manager is required to comply with administrative decisions issued by the Authority’s senior leadership.
However, Verity News has not independently established why the officers were allegedly rejected, whether Yonly formally challenged the directive, or whether the reassignment was eventually completed.
The original directive and subsequent correspondence would be necessary to determine whether the dispute resulted from a breakdown in communication, a disagreement over personnel deployment, or a failure to implement an authorized management decision.
PERSONNEL DECISIONS ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY
The concerns reportedly extend to personnel management, including the removal of an individual identified as Mr. Bosco from an office assignment and other employment-related decisions allegedly taken without the approval of senior management.
The information reviewed by Verity News does not provide sufficient details to establish the circumstances surrounding these decisions or whether they fell within Yonly’s delegated responsibilities.
However, the allegations raise questions about the boundaries of the Port Manager’s administrative authority and whether personnel decisions were made in accordance with the Authority’s internal procedures.
YONLY FAILS TO ADDRESS VERITY NEWS’ QUESTIONS
As part of its investigation, Verity News sought a response from Yonly regarding the allegations and the specific concerns raised about his management of JSPA.
Yonly initially indicated that he was willing to listen to the concerns. Subsequently, Verity News respectfully forwarded the issues to him for a response.
However, he did not provide answers to the questions presented.
Verity News subsequently made multiple telephone calls to Yonly in a further effort to obtain his comments, but the calls went unanswered.
As of publication, Yonly had not provided a substantive response to the allegations.
His failure to respond does not establish that the allegations are true, and the newspaper does not treat his silence as an admission of wrongdoing. Verity News remains open to publishing his explanation or any documentary evidence he provides that addresses the issues raised.
The concerns reportedly submitted to the LAA Board of Directors place several aspects of JSPA’s administration under scrutiny, particularly the authorization of major funding requests, financial oversight, personnel management, and compliance with directives from senior leadership.
The Board’s review, together with any relevant financial records, administrative correspondence, and responses from the officials involved, could help establish whether the reported incidents reflect procedural misunderstandings, disputes over delegated authority, or violations of established institutional controls.
For an institution entrusted with managing public airport infrastructure, the questions extend beyond an individual official to the effectiveness of the systems designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and responsible administration.
Verity News is continuing its investigation and seeking documentary evidence relating to the reported US$40 million funding request, the alleged banking arrangements, any transactions involving external entities, the July 6 personnel directive, and the disputed administrative decisions.
INDICTMENT NAMES JSPA PORT MANAGER IN ALLEGED DRUG-TRAFFICKING COMMUNICATION ARRANGEMENT
In another development, a recent drug-trafficking indictment named James Spriggs Payne Airfield Port Manager Abner Wanah Yonly, Sr., in an alleged communication arrangement involving individuals accused of participating in a drug-trafficking enterprise.
According to the indictment, Yonly was among individuals allegedly recruited into the drug trifficking operation and was reportedly given one cellphone for communication by the drug cartel. The document identifies him as the manager of James Spriggs Payne Airfield and lists him alongside F. Augustine Claudius Tamba, Deputy Director General of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), and Jammel V. Jallah.
“Mark Kuiah recruited F. Augustine Claudius Tamba, Deputy Director General of LCAA, and Abner Wanah Yonly, Sr., Manager, James Spriggs Payne Airfield, and Jammel V. Jallah gave them (1) cellphone each; while Mark Kuiah and Caycee Nelson received two (2) for Communication.” The indictment reads.
The indictment states that the three individuals each received one cellphone, while Mark Kuiah and Caycee Nelson allegedly received two phones each for communication.
The document further alleges that Yonly received a cellular phone for communication in connection with the purported enterprise.
It can be recalled that Abner Wanah Yonly Sr., age 40, was the US-based Liberian who piloted a a solo flight from the USA and landed at the James Spriggs Payne Airport on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
