By: Emmanuel K. Sarkoh, Intern Reporter
Liberian activist residing in exile, Martin K. N. Kollie, has refuted the latest media report of Daily Observer Newspaper linking him to “libel and conspiracy”. In a press statement issued on his official Facebook page, activist Kollie termed the Daily Observer reportage as sensational, malicious, and pay-to-play while cautioning its management to refrain from being used as a proxy of propaganda intended to protect corrupt State actors against poor Liberians who have been deprived and dispossessed because of institutionalized corruption, public waste, and bad governance in Liberia.
Kollie claimed that the recent media report was intended to distract him from challenging the status quo through his consistent and numerous advocacies in defense of Liberian people, especially vulnerable Liberians.
The exiled activist, who provided a detailed account of why nothing links him to “libel”, described LACC indictee, Wilmot Smith, whom Daily Observer is allegedly fronting for as a known State criminal who’s even mentioned in U.S. State Department Report over allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and misappropriation public funds intended for National Census operations in Liberia.
“Predicated upon our research-based and whistle-blowing work as an activist which exposed several senior officials of LISGIS, including Deputy Director General Wilmot Smith of institutionalized corruption and siphoning State resources, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) thoroughly investigated and indicted Wilmot Smith, Lawrence George, Francis F. Wreh, and Dominic Paye. The indictment is attached. This case was woefully compromised in 2023 by the CDC-led government because of Smith’s close relationship with former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah as a confidant. We call on President Joseph Boakai to reopen this LACC case because millions of USD in GOL and donor’s funds intended for CENSUS were mismanaged, stolen, and siphoned. The leaked LISGIS bank statement reflecting details that we published which led to an LACC investigation and subsequent indictment are credible, authentic, and reliable. We stand by what was published.” Kollie asserted.
Kollie claimed that his job is to whistle-blow as an activist, and it was his investigation that led to the LACC investigation and subsequent indictment of LISGIS officials including former Deputy Director Wilmot Smith. Kollie noted that Daily Observe never contacted him before linking him to “Libel and Conspiracy in Eco-Bank’s US$700K case”, a claim he has quickly trashed.
Kollie said he has many foes against him as a result of the kind of work (activism) that he does, including exposure of and advocacy against State criminals, Fake Credentialists, Public Waste, Bad Governance, Labor Abuse, and those whose political interests he vehemently opposed in 2023. He blasted his foes for hiding behind the media to attack him while at the same time calling for an independent, credible, investigative, and truthful media that must not allow itself to be used as a bidder for corrupt and greedy State actors.
