MONROVIA, Montserrado – On October 4, members of the Presidential Investigation Team set up by President George Weah to probe the alleged disappearance of billions in Liberian banknotes said they would take at least six weeks to conclude their investigation.

Addressing an Information Ministry press conference on Thursday, Alex Cuffy, the chief executive officer of the Financial Intelligence Unit, said the investigation would review the authorization to print and order Liberian banknotes, foreign currency auctions, and the infusion of US$25 million into the economy.

“The investigation will also review of authorization to order foreign banknotes into the country,” he added.

Cuffy said the investigations were triggered by a whistleblower who reported suspicious activities concerning the importation of banknotes into the country. He said based on the initial findings from the Liberia National Police and National Security Agency, the government established the Presidential Investigation Team to include the LNP, NSA, and FIU.

Despite the noise and distraction from the local and international media on the matter, Cuffy said the team remained steadfast and continued its investigation behind the scenes.

“We have reviewed a wide range of documents and interviewed a number of persons,” Cuffy said.

“We consider our inclusion on the investigation team as a patriotic call to duty, and we will deliver on our mandate provided we receive the maximum cooperation from the government and public as well as the needed funds to support the investigation.”

The chief executive officer of the Financial Intelligence Unit also assured Liberians that the investigation into the missing billions in printed Liberian banknotes is ongoing and will reach a logical conclusion. He said the team would submit a final report to the government and international partners.

“We are estimating a final report by mid-November 2018, the earliest,” Cuffy said.

He said the investigation team admonishes all members of the executive and legislative branches of government to refrain from issuing press releases, making press statements, and utterances in public on the matter, especially without consultation with the committee, because he said it could prejudice the ongoing investigation.

It is not clear whether the investigation team will ask President George Weah to also abide by that suggestion. Weah had made a speech on September 30 where he expressed his doubts that any money was missing.

Cuffy further said that the investigation team encourages government officials and members of the public to report any information that will assist the investigation adding that “the committee will guarantee the safety of any member of the public that will report information.”

Charles J. L. Gibson, the commissioner for investigation and enforcement at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and chair of the investigation team, urged the public to remain calm until the issue is resolved.

Charles J. L. Gibson, Commissioner for Investigation and Enforcement at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and chair of the Presidential Investigation Team. Photo: Zeze Ballah

“We are asking the public for trust, confidence, and cooperation,” he said. “If anyone is involved in the alleged scandal, the investigation will expose them.”

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah