GANTA, Nimba – A group of civil society organizations and leaders of Nimba has released to The Bush Chicken a petition they sent to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate allegations of corruption involving Nimba’s County Development Fund.

The one-page letter, dated July 3, 2015, contains the signatures of 16 leaders from around the county. In it, they asked the commission to conduct investigations on money that were improperly withdrawn from Nimba’s Social and County Development Funds.

In the communication addressed to the Chairman of the LACC, James Verdier, the leaders pointed out separate withdrawals made by the Project Management Committee dated October 7 and 28, 2013.

They claimed that on one occasion (October 7, 2013), the amount of US$259,925.00 was withdrawn and said to have been used for the purchase of 69,608 gallons of petroleum products and spare parts for the county’s road-building equipment.

Benedict Quato, a public financial management accountant who worked on a report reviewing all vouchers for payment during that time period said the amount was actually US$359,925.

Quato also confirmed that the quantity paid for was significantly higher compared to the quantity of fuel delivered. He added that the use of counter checks to withdraw the funds was informal and “not allowed for institutional accounts like the Nimba CDF account.”

The signatories to the petition contend that many of these withdrawals disregarded the Public Procurement and Concession Act Liberia.

An audit by the General Audit Commission also acknowledges that procedures of the PPC Act and Public Financial Management Act of Liberia were routinely ignored.

Although the GAC found many improprieties in the withdrawal of funds and awarding of contracts related to the funds during the periods of fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the petitioners were specifically concerned about those payments and withdrawals approved by the suspended PMC Chairman Clinton Layweh.

Layweh was suspended from his position following the appointment of Fong G. Zuagele as Superintendent of Nimba.

According to Quato, who worked within Zuagele’s office during this time, Layweh’s suspension created a rift between the Nimba legislative caucus and the county administration. They legislators accused Zuagele of overstepping his legal authority.

The compromise was reached to allow the suspended Layweh to continue receiving a monthly salary of over US$2,000, which the petitioners called “an unjustifiable salary” and an act of corruption.

The letter also called for the LACC to investigate the use of US$3,075 and US$300 by lawmakers of the county as hotel bills and sitting fees during the last County council sitting meeting held February, 2015 in Sanniquellie. The group believed that the use of this money by the lawmakers was unprecedented and unjust especially since lawmakers already receive huge salaries.

In its closing statement, the petitioners assured the LACC of its full support with providing whatever documents were necessary to enhance the investigation.  Dio Ireland (Federation of Road Transport Union of Liberia), Jesco C. Davis (Justice and Peace Commission), and Eddie Gbatu (Federation of Liberian Youth, Nimba) were among the signatories.