Liberia-The plot to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has taken a dramatic turn with latest reports pointing to the speaker’s role in the Sable Mining Bribery case dating back to July 9, 2016 when he served as Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce to prosecute some high ups officials of the government at the time.
According to investigation conducted by the TNR, there are some key figures behind the plot to oust the Speaker. Some of those behind Speaker Koffa’s removal were those prosecuted by the then Minister of State Without Portfolio at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, Cllr. Fonati Koffa under the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration.
Our investigation further revealed that one of those strongly behind the ousting of Speaker Koffa is former Grand Cape Mount County Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman who was accused by Global Witness of taking bribe from Sable Mining and was later prosecuted by Cllr. Koffa as head of the presidential taskforce.
Report says the former lawmaker is seeking revenge against his former prosecutor as a means of paying back. Cllr. Sherman is the lead lawyer of the Majority Bloc seeking the removal of Speaker Koffa and is said to be using his legal profession to get at the speaker who once prosecuted him (Sherman) over bribery allegation.
In 2016, a Special Presidential Taskforce was set up by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to probe circumstances surrounding a report released by an international watchdog (Global Witness) against Liberian officials.
Cllr. Fonati Koffa, Minister of State without Portfolio headed the Taskforce which investigated charges against Senator Varney Sherman, former Speaker Alex Tyler and other Liberians for allegedly colliding with a foreign business entity to alter Liberia’s procurement laws to suit their partner’s business interests.
The taskforce under the watch of Cllr. Koffa indicted Cllr. Sherman and former Speaker Tyler and filed a lawsuit against the defendants who were accused of allegedly receiving bribes to change the Public Procurement Concessions Commission (PPCC) Act to award concession agreements in favor of a British Company, Sable Mining, to mine the Wologisi Mountain in Lofa County.
Those named in the amended indictment at the time were former House Speaker Alex Tyler, former Grand Cape Mount County Senator Varney Sherman, former Deputy Lands Mines and Energy Minister E.C.B. Jones, and businessman, Christopher Onanuga.
Others prosecuted by Cllr. Koffa’s taskforce includes, former National Investment Commission (NIC) Chairman, Richard Tolbert; Andrew Groves and Klaus Piprek of Sable Mining; former Land & Mines Minister Eugene Shannon; former Minister of State Morris Saytumah, and Wille Belleh, former Chairman of the PPCC.
As a result of his role as head of the presidential taskforce set up to prosecute those linked to the Sable Mining Bribery saga, Cllr. Koffa now finds himself in trouble as those he prosecuted are gearing up to remove him as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Our investigation also revealed that former Speaker Tyler’s brother who is now Minister of Transport, Sirleaf Tyler, is part of those leading the process to fund the removal of Speaker Koffa as his ministry has been accused of dishing out thousands of United States Dollars to lawmakers for the ousting of the speaker.
Recently, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) and the Ministry of Transport were accused of raising US$750,000 to remove Koffa as Speaker. The report indicates that the two government institutions are allegedly funneling US$750,000 used to bribe lawmakers in a scheme to remove the Speaker of the House.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has confirmed it is investigating these claims. In an official statement, the LACC revealed it had received multiple complaints from stakeholders, prompting the launch of a formal investigation.
Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, Executive Chairperson of the LACC, stated that the Commission is treating the matter with utmost seriousness, emphasizing that such bribery attempts pose a severe threat to the integrity of the country’s democratic processes. “These allegations represent a grave breach of trust in our elected officials and a disruption to the rule of law,” said Zoe.
The alleged US$750,000 payment is believed to have been coordinated through the accounts of the Ministry of Transport and the LWSC, sparking public outcry and a demand for thorough scrutiny of the financial dealings of both entities. The LACC is working alongside the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and other relevant bodies to gather evidence and establish the truth behind these allegations.
