Monrovia – The head of Special Task Force appointed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to investigate the damning Global Witness report linking some senior officials of government to bribery, has committed itself to conducting a creditable investigation.
Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, said the taskforce has a responsibility to the public and as such it will probe the matter and bring to justice those indicted in the report based on sufficient evidence.
Cllr. Koffa said the investigation can be concluded within thirty days based on cooperation from both parties and those involved.
Making the disclosure on the 50-50 Morning Show Monday, Cllr Koffa lamented that Global Witness, the main complainant’s evidence will be critical to speedily probing the allegations.
Cllr. Koffa said the Task Force is working twenty-four seven to be able to give as quickly as possible some answers to the Liberia people, while stating that there are government officials at the highest level who are mentioned in the global Witness report.
“There are people whose integrity is online and even they should want to have as speedy process as possible. You talk about reputable lawyers and legislators. If they are clear and have done anything wrong; they deserve the right to be exonerated,” he noted.
Cllr. Koffa said Liberia deserves the right to also be exonerated. “The country deserves the right to also be exonerated that we have done something or we did not do something simply because the evidence didn’t match up. This is a rule of law process, it going to be done speedily,” he stressed.
Cllr. Koffa noted that the Task Force is equipped statutorily to be able to handle the investigation without reference to anybody else; saying once the President appointed the Task Force in the form or manner she did, she relinquished her ability to exercise control over it.
Cllr. Koffa said the taskforce is on a robust path of investigating and is currently gathering evidences, saying they will not form an opinion on the evidences until the taskforce sit at a meeting and invite people involve the saga.
Cllr. Koffa said without fear or favor the Task Force will prosecute anyone found liable during the investigation.
“Come what may, without fear or favor regardless who is between the scissor; we will do our work, that’s where we stand, it is the country that is at stake that needs to be vindicated and that’s why we have agency like LACC and the Ministry of Justice; they will bring onboard all of their best investigators and lawyers, and that’s why it will be completed in a shortest possible time,” he said.
Cllr. Koffa also called on the Ministry of state to help provide the Task Force with the necessary information needed. He explained that he is confident that the taskforce will perform, saying, the Task Force begins with investigation and ends with prosecution or no prosecution.
Cllr. Koffa also noted that workings of the Task Force have nothing to do with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s influence.
Cllr. Koffa was quick to point out that if there is no evidence on any individual during the investigation. “The Task Force will not prosecute them.
“We have to be fair with our fellow Liberians; we are going by the rule of law. If there is no evidence to prosecute some body; I simply cannot prosecute them because it will make everybody feel good but at the same time; if there is evidence to prosecute, no one will be safe from this Task Force,” he noted.
Edwin G. Genoway, Jr, (231886458910)[email protected]