In a shocking move, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai suspended his Immigration Boss, Commissioner-General Stephen H. J. Zargo, of the Liberia Immigration Services (LIS), for administrative reasons. According to an official statement from the Executive Mansion, the Commissioner-General is suspended from duty without pay for three (3) months.
President Joseph Boakai claimed in his suspension letter that Liberia Immigration Services Boss, Steve Zargo, was suspended for administrative reasons. But Verity News has investigated and uncovered reasons contrary to what Pres. Boakai said.
A 5-year leaked contract relating to 75,000 re-entry permit cards and 150,000 E-visa stickers shows how Commissioner-General Steve Zargo awarded a contract to CETIS, a company claiming to be from Slovenia.
According to Article 5, Section “L” of the leaked contractual agreement dated July 8, 2024, the company promised to provide a “kickback” of five vehicles, including three (3) Hilux Toyota Pick-ups (4-wheel drive), two (2) SUVs, and ten (10) Yahama Motorbikes, among others.
CETIS allegedly provided over US$300,000 to LIS Commissioner Steve Zargo to procure 3 Hilux Toyota Pickups, 2 SUVs, and 10 Yahama Motorbikes, but Zargo did not procure them. Inside sources confided that Zargo allegedly squandered what was intended for LIS, but immense pressure from his fellow commissioners compelled him to buy two (2) Toyota Jeeps and One (1) Land Cruiser later.
Verity News also has videos and pictures of these late transactions before his suspension. Further evidence shows that Ernest Keleko Boakai brought CETIS to Liberia. The leaked contract reveals that CETIS shall produce 15,000 Re-entry Permit Cards and 30,000 e-Visa Stickers for the first year.
“It is mutually agreed and understood that CETIS/ZIP Solutions shall provide the requisite materials and/or goods for GOL/LIS to process the applications for up to 75,000 Re-entry Permit Cards (Bio-metric) and 150,000 E-Visa Stickers for the issuance thereof for five (5) consecutive years with the three (3) levels of security features, including and not limited to those detailed in Appendix 1 of this agreement, which are more secured and impossible to counterfeit.” Article 6 of the E-Visa and Re-Entry Permit Card Agreement of July 8, 2024.
Multiple sources privy to classified information confiding in Verity News said Commissioner-General Stephen Zargo unilaterally negotiated and entered into this contractual agreement with CETIS without involving his colleague commissioners and other relevant stakeholders. They accused Zargo of indulging in significant corruption since taking over LIS.
Though Pres. Boakai claimed that Zargo was suspended for administrative reasons, but verifiable accounts in our possession show alleged acts of corruption. The suspension letter mandated Stephen Zargo to turn over all official materials, assets, and office accessories to the Deputy Commissioner-General for Administration of the Liberia Immigration Services (LIS).
As Liberians were left in suspense, speculating why Zargo was suspended, Verity News had to dig deeper to uncover the alleged bribery scandal. With this discovery, political pundits and analysts wonder whether Zargo’s suspension will ever be lifted.
