An investigation by this paper has uncovered an alleged conspiracy involving several board members aimed at shielding Dr. Isaac Podah and other indicted officials from prosecution.
Between September 8 and 15, 2025, over LRD 2.7 million was suddenly diverted from the account of Lofa County University (Check #s: 20035565 and 20035591) by Dr. Isaac P. Podah, President of Lofa County University, in collaboration with key board members.
Specifically, check #20035565, dated September 8, released L$660,900 to a certain Moses Johnwaye, while Check #20035591, issued on September 15, transferred an additional L$2,122,740 to the same individual. To date, there is no ongoing university project or expenditure that justifies these transactions.
Meanwhile, students and civil society groups in Voinjama are escalating pressure, demanding the immediate suspension or resignation of Dr. Podah and the implicated board members, including Rev. Victor Padmore, Board Chair, and Annie M. Flomo, Co-Chair.
“Podah will deplete the university accounts if action is not taken,” a student activist told this paper.
Indictment Unpacked
The charges stem from a sweeping investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), culminating in a formal indictment by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court on September 2, 2025, against Dr. Podah and several high-ranking officials. The indictment alleges a well-coordinated conspiracy involving:
Payroll fraud through the inclusion of ghost names;
Misapplication of entrusted property;
Economic sabotage and illegal disbursement of public funds;
Conflict of interest and abuse of office
Between November 2023 and September 2024, LRD and USD payroll records revealed over USD $48,335 in gross and USD $15,939.42 in net payments were illegally issued to non-existent or former employees.
Notably, 13 ghost names were discovered, including two deceased individuals and several who had resigned in 2023.
The court filing also cites numerous instances where public funds were misused under the guise of board retreats, fuel allocations, and discretionary payments.
For example, a USD $3,350 check was issued to Madam Flomo for a retreat that never took place, while multiple checks totaling over LRD 500,000 were disbursed as board fees with no documented board meetings.
Additionally, evidence shows payments made to employees based in Monrovia, including Vamuyah Kanneh, listed as Dr. Podah’s secretary, despite having no attendance or presence on campus.
Kanneh reportedly worked in the office of Senator Momoh Cyrus while collecting salaries from the university.
In response to the growing controversy, the Board of Trustees issued a resolution on September 5, 2025, reaffirming its confidence in the university’s leadership and dismissing media reports as premature.
The Board emphasized the presumption of innocence and vowed to monitor developments “pending official notifications from competent legal authorities.”
However, critics argue that the Board’s failure to act swiftly is enabling further abuses.
“The university is bleeding funds while those charged with safeguarding it are using it as a personal ATM,” a whistleblower from the finance department told this paper on condition of anonymity.
Legal proceedings are set to continue at the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court under the jurisdiction of Her Honour Nancy Finda Sammy.
The prosecution is pushing for swift action to prevent further depletion of public resources.
As the scandal unfolds, pressure continues to mount on the Ministry of Education, the Civil Service Agency, and Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Commission to enforce accountability.
Until the suspension and or the dismissal of the Dr. Podah and the conflicted board members, the fate of Lofa County University, once a beacon of hope for higher education in the northern region of Liberia remains in jeopardy.
