The life of Abel Guah, deputy chief investigator at the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission remains threatened as there is yet no proof of government’s effort to bring Counselor Syrenius Cepheus to account for saying he would kill the anti-graft agency’s official.
Guah has disclosed to Verity News that he fears his life might be snatched away by some brutes hired by Cepheus and his confidantes, more so that the Ministry of Justice has done nothing so far to alley the fear.
“Considering all that has been happening in our country over the years when people were killed and nothing came out it, I have a reason to believe that my safety is not guaranteed, not even in my own home. Cepheus was intentional when he threatened me. He did not express regret and since I wrote the Ministry of justice reporting the incident, I am yet to get any redress from them,” he disclosed.
On the 2nd day of this month (September 2024) Verity News reported the story bearing the headline ‘Death Threat” as the LACC official alarmed following the appearance of Senator Nathaniel McGill to answer questions on accusation of payroll padding at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
It has been nearly a month since the incident but Guah is yet to get government looking into his complaint.
In the possession of Verity News is a letter dated September 17, 2024 from the Ministry of Justice informing Counsellor Cepheus of Guah’s complaint to which he was invited to appear but as noted by the LACC official, there is no proof of Cepheus honoring the invitation from the Ministry.
Cllr. Augustine Fayiah, the Solicitor General said in his invitation letter that Cepheus, the accused, should (have) appeared on September 20, but no proof of the former Solicitor General’s appearance neither is there any trace of a separate communication to Guah to have been part of the conference.
“We present compliments and herewith write to inform you that we are in receipt of a letter of complaint over the signature of Mr. Abel D. Guah, deputy chief of investigation of LACC, dated 11 September A. D. 2024, regarding a death that was posed on his person by you.
Predicated upon the foregoing, you are kindly invited to a conference on the 20th of September 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Conference Room of the Solicitor General,” the letter contains, granting Cepheus the permission to take along with him any legal representation in cased he saw it befitting.
When George Weah was President, his government in which Cepheus served as Solicitor General, there were numerous mysterious deaths of people, mainly those in prominent positions who were entrusted with loads of work associated with anti-graft.
The Liberia Revenue Authority suffered three casualties, including Albert Peters and Gifty Lamah; followed by George B. Fambutu. Emmanuel Nyeswa, head of the Internal Audit Agency was another of several others who lost their lives under mysterious circumstances that did not receive conclusive investigation and holding accountable of the killers.
President Joseph Boakai, while in opposition promised to make security a paramount concern for all, rather than just for a select few, a promise he remains tested to ensure every citizen and resident feels safe.
McGill, now Senator for Margibi County, was Minister of State for Presidential Affairs when George Weah was President, and, other than the many other corruption allegations levied against him by many sources for which he was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, the Minister was also accused of involvement with the padding of the payroll and dishing to his accounts the cuts from those he hired then without proper civil service procedures.
Invited by the LACC, the former Minister, now Senator took along with him Cepheus, also sanctioned by the US Treasury Department as his legal representation. Cepheus, out of loyalty and exuberance in defending his client, is said to have threatened Guah.
