Monrovia – Mr. Alex Cuffy, brother of Madam Celia Cuffy Brown, who was acting head of the National Port Authority (NPA) when billions of local currencies reportedly came into the country, was revealed Thursday, October 4, as a member of the Investigative Team looking into the alleged scandal now rocking the nation.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
Cuffy and Charles J.L Gibson, Commissioner with oversight on Investigation and Enforcement, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and other members of the investigative team appeared at the Information Ministry regular press briefing on Thursday, October 4.
Both answered questions from journalists and Gibson specifically said the team doesn’t interpose objection to the statement made by the Central Bank of Liberia.
The Central Bank on Tuesday, October 2, clarified to the general public and partner in progress that there is no L$16 billion missing.
“The CBL has no records showing that the monies printed under its authority have not yet been delivered into its reserved vaults. Record from the Crane Currency of Sweden, which was contracted to print the money, shows that Crane delivered 15.5 billion through Freeport and Roberts International Airport (RIA) between 2016 and 2018 and that all these monies were logged by the CBL and delivered into the reserved vaults of the CBL.”
Addressing the regular Information Ministry press briefing, Gibson said the Investigative Team concurs with CBL statement.
“We interpose no objection to the matter. I think it was a good statement. As a matter of fact, if a group of people gives you something to keep for us and someone comes and says it is lost, it is only fair to come and say something.”
According to Gibson and Cuffy, the Bank is cooperating with the Investigative Team; however, he regretted that the press conference came ‘too late.’
Alex Cuffy, also head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), disclosed that the government had received a report from a whistleblower on the suspicious activities of the importation of currency bank note in August of 2018.
He said an Investigative Team was set up comprising the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) to investigate the report by the whistleblower.
An initial finding led to the presidential investigative team formation which included the FIU, NSA and LNP to investigate circumstances surrounding not just alarm from the whistleblower but also the printing and importation of currency bank notes between January 2016 and August 2018.
According to him, while the investigation was ongoing, the “bubble burst”.
“On Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, and Monday Sept. 17, 2018 there were reports from Hot Pepper and FrontPageAfrica concerning the money,” indicating that from Sept. 17 to date, the government has issued press releases, there have been a peaceful demonstration; adding: “In spite of the noise and distraction, the Investigative Team remains steadfast.”
Cuffy said on September 19, 2018, the Investigative Team was expanded to include Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Federation of Liberia Youth, Liberia Civil Society Organizations and religious leaders.
He confirmed that the religious leaders did not honor the invitation for neutrality’s sake.
The TOR, according to Cuffy, is to focus on financial crimes investigation and this requires more time.
“We will review authorization for printing and ordering currency not only Liberian Dollars, accountability for Liberian bank notes, foreign currency exchange, infusion of the US$25 million into the economy. We will have to interview a number of people; we have reviewed a wide range of documents, and interviewed a number of people.”
Investigation Duration
The men couldn’t say when they are going to conclude their investigation since beginning on August 8, 2018.
Cuffy, however, hinted that it could last for the minimum of six weeks or up to a year of two.
He assured the public that security agencies combined in the investigation have the capacity, integrity, tenacity, to conduct and conclude the investigation.
“We consider this as a patriotic call to duty. We are receiving maximum cooperation from the public; the Investigative Team would like to assure the public, both home and abroad, that the investigation is ongoing and we will reach logical conclusion and we will present the report to the government and partners.
Cuffy further called on the public to come forward with every necessary pieces of evidence that will aid in their investigation.
“If you have any information bring it to us and you will receive protection in any case.”
Stop Talking About the ‘Missing’ Billion.
Cuffy admonished all members of the Legislature and Executive Branches of government to now refrain from issuing press releases, making press statements, making utterances in the public places as it relates to the ongoing investigation; especially without consultation with them, Investigative Team members. According to him, doing so has the propensity to prejudice the ongoing investigation.
Request to Take Delivery of Money, Conflict of Interest
The request to enter the Freeport and take delivery of containers of “printed materials” on March 31, 2018, was reportedly written by Mrs. Mariea E. Grisby-Toe, wife of LACC Co-commissioner Cllr. Augustine Toe. If it is true she had written this request, than Mr. Toe, whose LACC is now the head of the Investigative Team would have to call his own wife in for questioning.
As Toe would have to call his wife in so Cuffy would have to do the same, too, to bring his sister, Celia in for questioning. Celia was the head of the Freeport when the moneys reportedly arrived through the seaport into the country.
Advocate’s Opinion on the Matter
Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) Executive Director Anderson Miamen told this newspaper that both Cllr. Toe and Cuffy must recuse themselves from the ongoing investigations.
Miamen especially urged Cllr. Toe to personally recuse himself and allow other commissioners to continue with the investigation.
He also added that though Celia is not on the list of persons of interest, her brother Alex should also do the same to recuse himself and allow others to take control of the investigation.
“Eventually, Celia would have to be asked some questions as it regards this ‘missing’ billion saga. So he will have to second someone and not sit on the panel to investigate his sister.
“But, even if getting someone to play their roles, they can still make some decisions in their favor; it is a sticky issue. No matter where they are, they will impact the investigation,” he opined.
Miamen said it is unbelievable that the Investigative Team will suggest that the investigation will be climaxed in a year.