Sheriff added that both his family and business associates have raised concerns about the reputational harm caused by the LACC’s decision.
Monrovia – Sheikh Omarou Sheriff, Chief Executive Officer of City Lion Inc., has expressed concern over what he describes as an unfair and damaging decision by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to place him under a travel ban, despite his full cooperation with investigators in a case involving road construction equipment procured for Gbarpolu County.
By Willie Tokpah
Sheriff, along with 19 others, including former Liberia Telecommunications Authority boss Abdullah Kamara, former NOCAL CEO Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, and former LRRRC Executive Director Patrick T. Worzie, was recently placed on a temporary travel restriction by the LACC. The move is part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and financial irregularities.
However, Sheriff says he was never investigated, indicted, or accused of any wrongdoing. According to him, his company was contracted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023 to supply a yellow earth-moving machine for road works in Gbarpolu County, valued at nearly US$400,000. He insists that his involvement was limited to the procurement and delivery of the equipment.
“I was simply asked to clarify the status of a machine we procured and delivered. I cooperated fully, submitted all documents, and even facilitated an on-site inspection of the equipment,” Sheriff told FrontPageAfrica.
“Now, without any formal charges or accusations, my name is on a travel restriction list, which has severely damaged my personal and professional reputation.”
Sheriff said City Lion Inc. won the government contract through a competitive public bidding process. The machine was delivered to the Freeport of Monrovia but experienced delays in clearance due to late processing of duty-free documentation by the government. To prevent the equipment from being considered abandoned, Sheriff said City Lion paid US$15,000 to reclaim it in good faith.
He alleged that Gbarpolu County’s then-Superintendent, Sam Zinnah, removed the machine from the port without official clearance or inspection by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He added that the equipment was also taken before the manufacturer could properly assemble it, potentially affecting its functionality.
Sheriff stated that he was contacted by an LACC investigator, identified only as “Abel,” who questioned him based on claims that City Lion had failed to deliver the equipment. He said he immediately invited the Commission to inspect the machine, and the LACC later confirmed that the equipment was present and correct.
“I even asked them to provide a written confirmation that the matter was resolved, but they said they would follow up. Instead, I was shocked to find my name listed under travel restrictions,” Sheriff said.
The City Lion CEO emphasized that his role ended with the successful delivery of the equipment and that any mismanagement thereafter was not within his control. He believes being listed among individuals under investigation has unfairly tarnished his reputation.
“This action is damaging. My company competes globally, and now I have to explain to partners and clients why my name is associated with an investigation I was never a subject of,” he said.
Sheriff added that both his family and business associates have raised concerns about the reputational harm caused by the LACC’s decision. Some partners are now hesitant to continue working with City Lion, fearing involvement in legal or administrative issues.
Sheriff is demanding that the LACC immediately remove his name from the travel restriction list and issue a formal clarification of his status. He argues that punishing those who cooperate with anti-corruption efforts discourages transparency and weakens public trust.
“You can’t punish someone who provides information in good faith. That’s not how justice or due process works,” he said.
