OIC Denies Receiving Any Vehicle, Gift or Benefit; Says Decision Is Meant to Protect Integrity of Independent Investigation
By Willie N. Tokpah
MONROVIA-Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, LDEA, Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T. M. Biago has temporarily recused himself from the functions of his office, as he comes under mounting public pressure over an allegation that he received a vehicle as a gift from a drug trafficker or persons allegedly connected to a drug-trafficking organization.
Biago announced the decision on Saturday, saying he requested to temporarily step aside while the allegation concerning him is independently investigated.
In a post on Saturday, August 8, the LDEA chief categorically denied receiving “any vehicle, gift, or benefit” from a drug trafficker or anyone acting on behalf of a drug-trafficking organization.
He stressed that his decision to recuse himself should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing, but rather as an effort to protect the credibility of the investigation and prevent any perception that he could interfere with the process.
“My decision is not an admission of wrongdoing; it is an act of institutional responsibility intended to protect the integrity of the investigation, prevent any perception of interference, and preserve public confidence in the LDEA,” Biago said.
Biago announcement follows sustained public pressure from activist and publisher Martin K. N. Kollie, who has repeatedly raised questions surrounding an alleged grey pickup vehicle and its purported connection to individuals involved in the illicit drug trade.
Kollie, who heads a newspaper, has made the allegation a subject of public debate, increasing pressure on the LDEA leadership to address the matter.
Biago Previously Denied Allegation
Biago’s decision to temporarily recuse himself marks a key development, because it comes after previous denials surrounding allegations involving him.
The LDEA has, in recent months, repeatedly used its Communications Department to respond to reports and claims concerning its Officer-in-Charge.
In June, the agency rejected reports that Biago was contemplating resignation amid pressure from ongoing investigations, describing the reports as baseless and without merit.
In July, the agency also issued a clarification concerning claims about a man identified as Jonathan Momolu, who was allegedly being portrayed as Biago’s official driver.
The LDEA said a review of its personnel and assignment records found no record that Momolu had been appointed or assigned as Biago’s official driver and said he was not an employee of the agency.
The latest controversy, however, has produced a markedly different response from Biago himself.
Rather than simply rejecting the allegation, the LDEA chief has now opted to remove himself temporarily from the agency’s leadership functions while an independent investigation takes place.
‘The Institution Must Always Remain Greater Than the Individual’
Explaining his decision, Biago invoked the principle of institutional accountability.
“No institution can effectively demand accountability from others while appearing unwilling to submit itself to the same standard,” he said.
He pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed confidence that an impartial, transparent and evidence-based process would establish the facts.
“The institution must always remain greater than the individual,” Biago added.
The statement could represent an important test of the LDEA’s commitment to the accountability standards it has publicly promoted since Biago assumed leadership.
The agency has repeatedly emphasized that no officer is above the law.
In May, the LDEA announced that four dismissed officers had been forwarded for criminal prosecution following an internal investigation into allegations involving the handling of seized cocaine.
The agency said at the time that it maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and misconduct and that no officer was above the law.
The agency subsequently announced that former LDEA Chief of Operations Abdullai Sheriff and drug-trafficking suspect Quita Kosso Dolo had pleaded guilty in connection with a cocaine case involving drugs seized at Roberts International Airport.
Pressure Comes at Critical Moment for LDEA
The allegation against Biago comes at a particularly sensitive period for the LDEA, which has been under increasing public attention because of the country’s escalating fight against drug trafficking.
The agency recently announced major drug seizures, including a June cocaine interception at Roberts International Airport that it said involved approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than US$19 million.
The National Security Council elevated that matter to a Joint National Security Investigation because of its potential transnational dimensions and possib
