CENTAL’s ALAC and the Impact in Curbing Corruption
Imagine critical funds needed to assist in the design of policies and implement initiatives to prevent unwanted pregnancies amongst adolescent girls and women being misused to feather the nests of a few individuals. That was the story of corruption at the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL) reported to the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) through its Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC) sometimes in 2022.
What started as allegations of corruption in the tone of $ 96, 875.00 forwarded to ALAC against the former officials including Madam Miatta K.K. Cojolo, former Executive Director, Ernree Bee Neeplo, former Program Manager, Ernest Vobah, former Finance and Administrative Manager, William Gibson, former Human Resource Manager, and Peter Collins, Board Vice Chairman, turned into an indictment and a guilty verdict by the Criminal Court “C”.
In all began in 2020, when the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia with support from IPPFARO commissioned a Forensic Auditor, Parker & Company LLC to undertake a forensic audit of activities covering a period of 6 years (2013-2018). Findings from the audit amongst others accused the former staff of financial malpractices. Based on the audit findings, a Steering Committee comprising 8 members was constituted to hold conferences with the accused staff (former and current) and former Honorary Members of the Association.
The purpose of the conferences, as mentioned supra, was to ascertain from the staff the allegations about their culpability and the possibility of their ability to restitute the amounts for which they were found wanting. As an independent corruption reporting platform of CENTAL, ALAC was alerted to help track the progress of the allegations through the legal system.
In October 2021, upon completion of the conference by the steering committee in collaboration with CENTAL, the team submitted its report to the board that recommended among many things that the accused staff be forwarded to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation and subsequent prosecution and where and when possible.
The Forensic audit report was then submitted to the LACC by ALAC in Oct. 2021 which led to the commencement of investigation, drawing of indictment and legal proceedings into the matter at the Criminal Court “C”. The investigation had established that Kadiyatu Sheriff, Victoria Gibson, and Syma Aaron Diawon were named as incorporators, with Kadiyatu Sheriff being Cojolo’s niece and representing her interest in the firm. Similarly, Vobah, Gibson, and Collins had their spouses listed as shareholders without their knowledge.
Despite not following Public Procurement and Concession Commission’s (PPCC) Procedures, PPAL entered into a contract with PEWETA Security Inc. on September 1, 2014, two months prior to illegally establishing the company. The contract was for guard services at PPAL’s Headquarters and other Offices, valued at $37,500.00 annually and renewed until 2018. The Defendants conspired to have PPAL paid $96,875.00 to PEWETA Security Company, of which they were beneficial owners, for security guard services during the specified period.
During the trial, the Defendants denied all allegations against them. Importantly, CENTAL, through its Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, was subpoenaed by the court to testify in the proceedings as to its knowledge of the matter. A mandate that was complied with. Following about two years of court proceedings into the matter, the accused were slapped with a guilty verdict by Judge Kennedy Peabody on charges of economic sabotage, theft, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, misapplication of entrusted property, speculation or wagering on official action or information, and criminal conspiracy.
Following the verdict, the court requested the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Office to conduct an investigation into the defendants’ character and report back within one week. Judge Peabody sentenced the defendants, who are being incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison and required to restitute the stolen funds.
The guilty verdict against the officials is a testament to the amount of progress which could be achieved through ALAC when citizens play active and not passive roles in the fight against corruption by reporting corrupt dealings and not sitting on the fence. Already, ALAC has resolved several cases through the provision of legal advice and mediation while some were referred to the Ministry of Education, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Liberia Electricity Corporation, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the United Methodist University, amongst others.