U.S. Sanctioned Liberian Gov’t Officials Speak To Al Jazeera, As McGill Blames Impersonators, While Cephus Shift Same On His Boss

Two of the suspended senior government officials who were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for public corruption have publicly distance themselves from allegation levied against them in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera   journalist who is currently in Liberia.

Both sanction designated officials, suspended Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff to President Weah, Nathaniel McGill, and the Solicitor General of Liberia, Sayma Cephus have all shifted blames on people they believed have reportedly lied to the United States Treasury Department.

For his part, Mr. McGill blamed the action by the Treasury Department to imposed sanction on him by people he called ‘Impersonators’ who he noted have been using his name over the past years doing things that are in his favor, noting, “They lied on my name to the U.S. Treasury Department”, Mr. McGill exonerating himself on the imposition of sanction said.

Also exonerating himself during the interview with Al Jazeera, the Solicitor General of Liberia Sayma Cephus blamed the action of the U.S. Treasury Department on his boss, the Minister of Justice; Cllr. Frank Musa Dean who he alleged engineered the plot for him to be placed on sanctions.

Last August, 2022, the Liberian President George Weah suspended three officials Tuesday after the U.S. government announced sanctions on them for public corruption. The officials include the president’s chief of staff, the country’s chief prosecutor, and the managing director of Liberia’s National Port Authority.

The suspensions were made less than 24 hours after the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on three senior Liberian officials for alleged corruption.

Nathaniel McGill, Liberia’s minister of state and the president’s chief of staff, is accused of a variety of corruption schemes, including directing warlords to threaten political rivals, bribery, and the misappropriation of state assets.

Sayma Cephus, Liberia’s solicitor general and chief prosecutor, is accused of shielding suspected criminals, blocking investigations into government corruption and interfering with evidence to ensure the conviction of political rivals. Bill Twehway, managing director of Liberia’s National Port Authority, is accused of funneling money from the port into private accounts.