By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia – Eugene Lenn Nagbe, Chief of Office Staff to former President George M. Weah, has issued a forceful defense of the former leader’s wealth, rejecting allegations of unexplained enrichment and accusing critics of launching politically motivated attacks instead of pursuing formal investigations.
Speaking on OK FM, Nagbe insisted that every property owned by Mr. Weah was acquired through legitimate income from his international football career, not through the diversion of state resources. He argued that public suspicion surrounding the former president’s extensive real estate holdings is fueled by “idle speculation,” not factual evidence.
Nagbe maintained that Mr. Weah built his first residence in the Rehab community at the age of 20 and asserted that the controversial 9th Street property “was almost completed” long before he assumed office in January 2018. He acknowledged, however, that the final phase of the 9th Street construction was completed “within two months” after Weah became president—a timeline that has significantly intensified public doubts.
“You can ask the people living around the area,” Nagbe stated. “If you think former President Weah used government money to build his 9th Street residence, then take the case to the Asset Recovery Team. I dare you.”
Nagbe accused critics of engaging in “shadow indictments” rather than using proper accountability channels. His comments come at a time of heightened public scrutiny of former Weah administration officials and growing demands for comprehensive asset verification.
The Asset Recovery Taskforce, established to investigate suspected corruption and reclaim misappropriated state resources, has drawn widespread public interest. The Boakai administration has pledged impartial enforcement, but some former officials maintain that the initiative is being used to target political opponents.
Nagbe, who previously held multiple high-ranking ministerial posts, described the ongoing inquiries as harassment driven by political alignment rather than evidence.
Turning defense into counter-accusation, Nagbe challenged the government to clarify ownership of a multimillion-dollar construction project in Foya, Lofa County. This development had been described by some officials as part of a Mano River Union (MRU) initiative.
Nagbe noted that the MRU has publicly distanced itself from this claim and called on the Ministry of Information to “fact-check its statements before publishing misinformation.”
He further alleged that conflicting explanations from the Boakai administration, including statements from the President’s Press Secretary, have raised more questions than answers. He called for the government to disclose who truly owns the Foya construction project.
“Liberians deserve to know who is behind the Foya villa project,” he demanded. “Why hasn’t the Asset Recovery Team launched an investigation into that matter? Stop going after peaceful citizens because of political affiliation.”
Nagbe also criticized what he termed “disrespectful remarks” by some officials, cautioning the Ministry of Information against insulting political and religious leaders who speak out against governance lapses.
Meanwhile, critics argue that the speed of construction on Weah’s 9th Street residence, along with his expanding real estate portfolio during his presidency, warrants an independent inquiry. They insist that transparency requires applying the same standards to former presidents as to current officials.
As the national debate widens, the controversy surrounding Mr. Weah’s assets and the counter-allegations over the Foya project have become a critical test of the Boakai administration’s commitment to fair, credible, and non-selective anti-corruption enforcement.
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