VOINJAMA – The Tenth Judicial Circuit Court in Lofa County has handed down an indictment against top officials of the Lofa County University (LCU), accusing them of economic sabotage, theft of property, misuse of public funds, and criminal conspiracy in what prosecutors describe as a brazen scheme to defraud the Government of Liberia.
The indictment, filed during the court’s August Term A.D. 2025 and signed by Resident Circuit Judge Nancy Finda Sammy, names former LCU President Dr. Stephen K. Ngamai, current President Dr. Issac P. Podah, Comptroller Peter Taylor, Vice President for Administration Danwolo B.S. Catakaw, Administrative Assistant C. Anthony Crayton, and several others as defendants.
According to the document, “the defendants, with criminal minds to commit a crime, purposely, knowingly, willfully, and intentionally, did conspire, collude, facilitate and did do and commit the Crimes of Economic Sabotage (Fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia); Misuse of Public Money, Property or Record; and Theft and/or illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money.”
The charges stem from what prosecutors allege was a systematic manipulation of the university’s payroll and finances. A January 16, 2025 audit by the Comptroller and Accountant General revealed 13 ghost names on the university’s payroll for September 2024, amounting to $12,010. Six of those names, the indictment said, were of former employees who had either resigned or were deceased.
Despite the discrepancies, prosecutors say the payroll was still processed. “Between November 2023 up to and including September 2024, the total amount of illegal payments amounting to Forty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Five United States Dollars ($48,335.00 gross) were made to unspecified numbers of people with no employment record,” the court filing noted.
The indictment further alleges that the university’s former president, comptroller, and a payroll technician at the Civil Service Agency connived to siphon a net amount of $15,939.42 from government coffers. This, the prosecution argues, constituted payroll padding and theft of public property.
In addition to payroll irregularities, the court document details questionable financial transactions under Dr. Podah’s leadership. On January 14, 2025, a check for $3,350 was issued in the name of Madam Annie M. Flomo, Co-Chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, for a retreat that prosecutors claim never took place.
The indictment stated: “The investigation established no record of Board Sitting and that said amount was used solely for the personal benefits of both Mr. Podah, President LCU, Rev. G. Victor Padmore, Board Chair of the LCU and Madam Flomo, Co-Chair of the Board.”
Fuel expenditures also came under scrutiny. On November 18, 2024, the university disbursed LRD 103,985.70 for fuel purchases allegedly intended for the President’s travel. However, prosecutors allege that “the payment showed no proof of work or official function or duties.”
Further irregularities include resettlement fees and allowances. On November 27, 2024, Dr. Podah reportedly received $3,000 for accommodation and furnishing of his residence, despite no evidence of proper approval or necessity.
Prosecutors also claim that certain staff members’ names were fraudulently used to cash checks. For example, an employee in the maintenance section, Moiselekie K. Duwana, reportedly denied any knowledge of large sums issued in his name. “The investigation established that he denied any knowledge of such amounts placed in his name for cashing by the Authorities of the LCU,” the indictment recorded.
The court filing accuses the defendants of violating Liberia’s Penal Code, specifically Title 26, Sections 15.80, 15.81, and 15.82, which criminalize fraud, misuse of public property, and illegal disbursement of government funds.
On the matter of theft of property, the indictment charges that “Dr. Podah, current President of the LCU, Mr. Catakaw, VPA, and C. Crayton, Administrative Assistant and Vamuyah Kanneh while exercising their fiduciary responsibilities… abused their authorities by requesting, receiving and disbursing monies” without evidence of work performed.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which brought the case forward, maintains that the acts of the accused were deliberate and left no room for defense. “The defendants have no affirmative defense for your acts or conduct contrary to the laws of the Republic of Liberia,” the court document declared.
If convicted, the officials could face first and second-degree felony penalties under Liberian law, which include lengthy prison sentences. The court is expected to set a hearing date in the coming weeks as the high-profile corruption case draws national attention.
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