The Supreme Court of Liberia following months of legal battle has finally ended the much publicized case between the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force versus Gracious Ride respectively.
In its ruling, the highest court among other things questioned the petitioners claim that the Assets Recovery Task force as a Presidential team does not have the legal authority to function unlike the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
However, the Supreme Court laid the matter to rest when it stated that the petitioners lacks the legal standing to question the function of a third party making reference to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
The decision which dashed the hopes of Gracious Ride’s argument thus saw the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force as the victor of the case following nearly nine months of legal battles.
According to the Chairman of the Taskforce , Cllr. Edwi.n Kla Martin, he and his team has over the period, complied with the Supreme Court Stay Order in adherence to the rule of law.
“ARREPT, being a law-abiding institution, respected and complied with the High Court during months of legal battles”, Cllr. Martin re-emphasized.
At the same time, he pledged the Task Force’s committement to transparency and accountability, which is the forefront of its mission.
According to Cllr. Martin, every asset recovered brings them one step closer to restoring public trust and ensuring that government resources are utilized for the benefit of all citizens.
The Assets Recovery boss also indicated that in a country where financial crimes are increasingly high, it is vital for the public to have confidence in their work as such reaffirmed their dedication to said critical work.
He at the same pointed out that “ARREPT” combines expert knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and a relentless pursuit of justice will continue to work to ensure that stolen assets are returned.
It can be recalled that the stay order issued on ARREPT suspended its activities for months, and now, with a ruling in favor of President Joseph Nyemah Boakai’s executive order creation for ARREPT, it has settled the legality over Executive Order #126 and the existence of the task forces.
Well, based on the ruling, ARREPT as a means of continuing its work announced that it will immediately start an investigation into allegations and accusations of suspicious and illegal assets from past and present public officials.
Meanwhile, The Task Force was set up in March 2024 by President Boakai through Executive Order No. 126 to search, seize, was among other things meant to investigate government assets that were obtained illegally.
