The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has flagged what it termed as a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving key officials from the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) and Sky Insurance.
The discovery of the scandal has prompted an urgent call for a full investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
In a confidential communication sent to Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, the Executive Chairperson of the LACC, the FIA outlined a series of troubling financial transactions that suggest widespread corruption at the heart of Liberia’s public education system.
The report implicates Sonita Dangan, an employee of MCSS, James A. S. Momoh, the Superintendent of MCSS, and Kabineh Keita, an official of Sky Insurance, in a scheme that allegedly inflated insurance costs and misappropriated funds designated for a government-sponsored scholarship program.
According to the intelligence gathered, Sonita Dangan, who has worked at MCSS, was at the center of this illicit operation. In September 2024, Dangan allegedly reactivated a dormant account at Sapelle International Bank (SIB) that had been inactive for over two years. Shortly after reactivation, she deposited three checks totaling over eight million Liberian dollar (L$8 million), all issued by Kabineh Keita of Sky Insurance.
However, the FIA found no evidence of any legitimate business relationship between Dangan and Keita, raising suspicions that these checks were part of a larger fraud scheme.
The report also reveals that the MCSS administration, under the leadership of Superintendent James A. S. Momoh, diverted funds from a government-funded scholarship program intended for MCSS teachers. While the Liberian government reportedly covered the costs of travel for the scholarship recipients to study in India, each of the selected teachers was charged an additional US$920. The FIA suspects that these payments were funneled into the pockets of MCSS officials, with Superintendent Momoh believed to be the principal beneficiary.
Further analysis of Dangan’s financial records shows that after the checks were deposited into her account, large sums of money were quickly withdrawn in cash, further fueling concerns of money laundering and illegal financial activities. The FIA’s investigation into Dangan’s financial activities revealed a pattern of questionable transactions, including unreported salary payments and a lack of business dealings to justify the substantial deposits.
The involvement of Sky Insurance in the suspected kickback scheme raises additional red flags. Keita, identified as a key player in the insurance fraud, allegedly orchestrated the issuance of checks to Dangan, despite there being no business dealings between the two. This has prompted the FIA to investigate the extent of Sky Insurance’s role in the operation, which could expose a network of corruption extending beyond the MCSS.
The FIA’s findings, which have been shared with the LACC, are being treated with the utmost seriousness. The agency has recommended that the LACC initiate a comprehensive investigation into the actions of Sonita Dangan, Kabineh Keita, and the MCSS administration, particularly focusing on the inflated insurance premiums and the misappropriation of scholarship funds.
“The FIA has uncovered a disturbing pattern of fraud and corruption involving key officials at the MCSS and Sky Insurance. The financial records indicate substantial kickbacks and fraudulent financial transactions that need to be thoroughly investigated,” said Mohammed A. Nasser, Officer-in-Charge of the FIA.
The LACC is now under pressure to act swiftly to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud and corruption, which, if proven, could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of Liberia’s public sector and its educational system. The investigation into the actions of Dangan, Keita, and Momoh is expected to continue as more evidence is gathered.
As the LACC moves forward with its probe, the FIA has emphasized that the intelligence provided should be used solely for investigative purposes and not for judicial or evidentiary actions unless authorized.
