By James T. Brooks
In a chilling exposé of institutional rot, the ongoing corruption trial in Monrovia has pulled back the curtain on a shadow financial system where millions of taxpayer dollars allegedly vanished without a single trace. During the 40-day jury sitting, a subpoenaed witness from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Baba Mohamed Boika, delivered a testimony that sent shockwaves through the courtroom, detailing a sophisticated “silent” movement of money that lacked any legal or documented authorization.
According to Boika, the investigation uncovered a brazen bypass of state protocols. Massive funds were reportedly released to the Joint Security based on a solitary instruction from Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, following a mere “consultation” with National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh. Boika emphasized to the court that there was no written authorization, no emergency justification, and absolutely no approval from the National Security Council.
The witness further revealed that the Ministry of Finance—the nation’s fiscal gatekeeper—was left entirely in the dark, with no formal request or communication ever made to account for the massive outflow.
The scale of the “illegal disbursement” is staggering. Boika detailed a series of massive transfers from primary Government of Liberia accounts, including funds diverted from the Ministry of Health and various operational accounts. These funds were funneled into the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) in several high-value transactions:
- Over L$27 million
- More than L$400 million
- An additional L$100 million+
- A staggering US$500,000
The witness did not mince words: because these transfers were never budgeted or authorized by law, they constitute a criminal breach of trust. “Approving the transfer of public funds without authorization is illegal. Practically, it is theft,” Boika told the stunned courtroom.
The testimony paints a picture of a calculated “wash” of public money. Between September and October 2023, the funds were moved into FIA accounts—an agency not typically used to handle security funds—and then “quickly withdrawn” under the guise of security operations.
However, the LACC’s investigation hit a brick wall when trying to find the finish line for this cash:
- No security agency has confirmed receipt of the money.
- No receipts or invoices exist to justify the spending.
- No individual recipients have been identified.
Despite the defense’s claims that the money was utilized for “national security,” the prosecution’s witness maintained that there is zero evidence to support that narrative. The investigation concludes that the funds were moved and withdrawn in a vacuum of accountability, pointing to a systematic pillaging of the state’s coffers.
As the trial moves forward, the nation is left staring at an empty ledger and a haunting question that refuses to go away: Where did the money go?