Liberians were left dismayed when two sanctioned former officials of the Executive Branch of Government were seen in close range after one of them was invited by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to respond to allegations of payroll paddling under his headship as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
Political activists as well as advocates have viewed this as dramatic and a complete irony to be seen in modern-day and post-conflict Liberia.
Recently the LACC dispatched a communication inviting sanctioned Senator Nathaniel McGill of Margibi County to give an account of how the payroll of the Ministry he headed was overly stocked with names outside of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) guidelines and policies.
Making his appearance, along with him, was another sanctioned former government official, ex-Solicitor General, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, who is potentially the legal Representative for his colleague, who was also sanctioned by the U.S. during the CDC-led Government.
The legal support from the sanctioned Liberia’s Solicitor General is providing for his sanctioned colleague sounds laughable and unbelievable to critics, judging from their roles when they were given power to serve Liberians.
They were among other officials of Government during George Weah’s Administration placed under sanction for issues of corruption, and abuse of power among others.
In its August 15, 2022 release, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the former Liberian government officials including Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.
According to (OFAC), these officials were designated according to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.
The U.S. emphasized that holding corrupt actors accountable and bolstering anti-corruption efforts are both consistent and reflects Liberia’s commitment to implementing a strategy in countering Corruption.
A step that is believed to be taken by the government under the leadership of President Joseph Boakai is however being undermined.
While the UP government is possibly carrying on its “fight against corruption”, support for one another among the sanctioned and unsanctioned officials of the CDC-led government officials who are considered ‘corrupt’ is getting on the rise, something that might hinder this cause.
Evidence of the fact that the sanctioned former Solicitor General was seen speaking and providing legal guidance for his sanctioned colleague who was invited by LACC over payroll fraud.
The sanctioned former Solicitor General is notably known as one of the most popular and influential lawyers, a reflection that has the proclivity to overturn the goals around fighting corruption in Liberia.
Liberians on the other hand are seen as frustrated about the situation leading to an influx of social media reactions.
For instance, Anderson Miamen, the Executive Director for the Central of Accountability and Transparency (CENTAL) posted: “A Sanctioned Lawyer (Cyrenius Cephus) Representing a Sanctioned Client (Nathaniel Macgill) at LACC. Liberia is giving God a hard time.”, expressing his frustration.
Adding to the fleet of this drama was the presence of Liberians believed to be Supporters of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) who in their numbers were seen supporting their sanctioned political kinsman to leave the offices of the LACC.
Others believe the supporter’s action is awkward and doesn’t implicate the fight against corruption that continues to impede the growth and development of Liberia and by extension, their livelihoods.
A staunch exiled activist Martin K.N. Kolllie posted on his social media page: “When a politician steals US$100 Million intended to build/equip/provide schools, roads, hospitals, housing, LEC, jobs for everyone, that politician has stolen your future. When he/she gives you $5K to protest, you are guilty of stealing your future. To think that a “culprit” accused of CORRUPTION can “STEAL” millions from our people and dish out a few dollars for y’all to disrupt a legal process of accountability is to believe that a porcupine can convince a deer to disrupt a gathering of leopards. #Justice,” expressing his disappointment with the Liberians who went in support of political actors under U.S sanctions.
