The House of Representatives has summoned the Chairman of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT), Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, to appear before its full Plenary on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The decision was reached during the Second Day Sitting of the Second Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature, held on Thursday, May 15.
Cllr. Martin has been tasked to provide a comprehensive report on the performance, achievements, and ongoing operations of the Task Force since its inception. The move follows a formal communication submitted to Plenary by Representative P. Mike Jury of Maryland County Electoral District #1, who expressed concerns over the lack of public information on the activities of the institution.
Rep. Jury highlighted that although the Task Force was reauthorized by Executive Order #145 on March 5, 2025 – renewing its mandate under Executive Order #126 – there remains little transparency regarding the extent of its recoveries and the actual return of lost or stolen assets.
“It is important for the Liberian people to know what is happening at the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force,” Jury stated. “The public deserves clarity on the gap between what goes missing, what is recovered, and what is returned.”
Following deliberations on the floor, members of the House voted to invite Cllr. Martin to address these concerns directly. His appearance is expected to shed light on the institution’s effectiveness and accountability in recovering state-owned properties and resources.
