Liberia: Two Charged Over Alleged Fake WAEC Certificates in LNP Bid

Published: October 7, 2026

MONROVIA – Police have charged two men with forgery and criminal conspiracy, accusing them of trying to join the Liberia National Police with fake high school diplomas and West African Examinations Council certificates that investigators say were made at Red Light in Paynesville. Two other men accused of producing the documents are at large.

Maxison T. Varney, 24, a farmer from Lofa County, and Septemous T. Nemour were caught with the documents on Oct. 1 during screening for the LNP’s 2026 recruitment drive at the Liberia National Police Academy and Training School in Paynesville, according to a police charge sheet dated Oct. 5.

Police say Varney and Nemour are not high school graduates. Investigators allege that the two men conspired with George Tengbeh and Clinton Nyumah, who police say prepared the diploma and WAEC certificate the pair presented to the recruitment team. Tengbeh and Nyumah were charged in absentia with criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation and forgery, and police say they have not been apprehended.

The case began with a complaint from Jackson Dolo, acting team leader of the LNP’s Montserrado County recruitment team, after the documents were flagged during screening. The academy was running the screening with the police Human Resource Division.

Varney was arrested at the academy on Oct. 2 at about 10:40 a.m., according to the charge sheet, which lists Detective Dennis N. Weah as the arresting officer. The charge sheet does not give the date of Nemour’s arrest.

The Special Investigation Unit of the LNP Crime Services Department said it based the charges on its investigation and on what it described as admissions Varney and Nemour made during questioning. Madison J. Larmie led the investigation.

Varney and Nemour are charged under Section 10.3 of the Revised Penal Code for criminal conspiracy and under Section 15.70 for forgery. Tengbeh and Nyumah also face a charge of criminal facilitation under Section 10.2. Police said the case has been forwarded for prosecution.

A valid WASSCE certificate and a high school diploma are mandatory for applicants to the LNP’s nationwide recruitment, which began Sept. 8. Applicants must also be 18 to 35 years old and provide letters of recommendation, a birth certificate, national identification, police clearance and a medical report.