By: Frank P. Martin
MONROVIA: The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Chief Cyril Allen, says the recent sanctions imposed on some Liberian government officials by the United States Government are far from witch-hunt and conspiracy.
Addressing Journalists recently in Monrovia on the imposed sanction saga, Chief Allen asserted that the designation by the US government is far from “conspiracy and witch-hunt.”
He indicated that the sanctions are intended to serve as deterrence to public officials who are bent on using their influences and positions to carryout “clandestine actions” that contravene their respective duties and responsibilities.
“It would be unfair to see public officials in the Legislature to pass national budget and go to various government line ministries and agencies for kickbacks. It is an unjustifiable act that should not be commended by any Liberian, if these statements from the United States Government are proven to be truth,” Chief Allen indicated.
However, Chief Allen underscored the importance for the United States Government to produce pieces of evidence to the incoming administration of President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, for all of the accused Liberian officials to have their days in court and for justice to prevail.
“Look, you cannot have some foreigners in our country filing reports to the US government secretly without any due diligence. If the US government is serious about this whole sanction business, let them provide evidence to the Liberian government for investigation of the matters; order than that, I see the sanctions against our officials as toothless, because nothing is going to happen to those who are sanctioned besides their restriction to travel to the US,” he added.
Chief Allen: “Sometimes it is good to sanction people for their wrong doing but, you have to come with facts for the public to know whether the accused actually committed the crimes.”
At the same time, Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, who is also Secretary General of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has strongly criticized the US Department of Treasury for its recent designations of him for sanction.
Mayor Koijee termed the sanctions as the “biggest conspiracy” among all of the accusations levied against him.
He was sanctioned by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), for his alleged involvement in serious human rights abuses.
According to the US Government, Koijee is involved in stoking violence and controlling paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC.
These groups, according to OFAC, comprised former combatants and recently released prisoners, and are believed to have violently disrupted government critics’ demonstrations and opposition activities.”
“Koijee is also implicated in various instances of violence, including an opposition rally in July 2022, a memorial service for former Interim President Amos Sawyer in March 2022, an anti-rape protest in August 2020, a student graduation ceremony in December 2019, and an opposition rally in November 2018. Koijee engaged in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets for private political movements,” according to OFAC. He was sanctioned under Executive Order 13818 for serious human rights abuses and corruption.”
However, speaking at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions on Carey Street in Central Monrovia on Monday, December 11, 2023, Koijee responded that OFAC’s sanction is the biggest of all lies told against him.
“Let me say to you and not be disrespectful to you: I belong to an institution. His Excellency, President George Weah, received the news and he was devastated, so he cut short his trip and came back to the country yesterday evening. Officially, the party will be stating its position, and the government will also state its position,” Koijee told the gathering.
The US Department of Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned Senate Pro-Tempore, and Grand Kru County Senator, Albert T. Chie, and Senator J. Emmanuel Nuguay of Margibi County and Finanace Minister Samuel Tweah for their alleged involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity.
“Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the United States is publicly designating Tweah, Chie, and Nuquay, for their involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity. As part of this action, their immediate family members are also designated, including their spouses Delecia Berry Tweah, Abigail Chie, and Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, and Tweah and Nuquay’s minor children”, the statement of designation from the US Department of Treasury said.
