The practical battle of fighting corruption and promoting transparency and accountability in public sector especially by the Unity Party led Government will be tested on Tuesday in the wake of mixed views of President Boakai administration’s approach to handling the fight against corruption holistically.
Well, After nearly nine-months of legal arguement, the Supreme Court of Liberia is expected on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 decide whether or not to lift its stay order imposed on the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force’s operations.
The high court’s action was triggered when Gracious Ride Incorporated of former Chief of Protocol at the Executive Mansion, Amb. Nora Finda Bundoo through her lawyers filed for a writ of prohibition, challenging the Task Force’s authority to seize several of its vehicles.
The contention raised by Gracious Ride Incorporated, at that time, was that only, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has the statutory responsibility to seize and recover allege stolen public assets, and not a presidentially-appointed committee while
similar argument was initially denied by a lower court, the Civil Law Court.
Unfortunately, Gracious Ride resisted the ruling and subsequently appealed before the Supreme Court.
At the same time, The Task Force had repeatedly argued that the Presidential Executive Order #126 gave them the authority to retrieve, confiscate and recover state stolen wealth.
However and following legal debates, The Supreme Court will on Tuesday put an end, as to which institution, the Executive Order #126 or the LACC, has the statutory responsibility to seize and recover allege stolen public assets or wealth.
The prolonged delay which has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and media organizations as some of those had earlier raised questions about governance accountability and public trust in Liberia’s judiciary will be brought to a close on February 18, 2025 by the Supreme Court of Liberia.
It can be recalled In 2024, President Joseph Boakai issued an Executive Order #126, establishing the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, following reported evidence of alleged massive looting of public resources by Liberian leaders, especially during the administration of former President George Weah, an allegation the past regime has since refuted.
However, President Boakai’s efforts directed at identifying and recovering alleged corruptly acquired assets was temporary halted by the Supreme Court who is not poised to release final ruling on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
As all eyes and attention now set at the high court to hand down ruling in the much talked about and publicized case, the ground of the temple of justice especially looking at the magnitude of the case will be legally and politically charged while the fight for transparency and accountability as well as Public trust in governance space verses legal and appropriate procedures will be tested.
By: Staff Writer
