CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – The House of Representatives has summoned the current Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, and her immediate predecessor, Cllr. Kla Martin, over the leak of former President George Weah’s asset declaration documents.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
The decision by the Plenary was prompted by a request from Rep. Frank Saah Foko (District #9, Montserrado County), urging the House to invite the officials to explain how the ex-president’s documents were leaked.
Rep. Foko pointed out that while the National Code of Conduct mandates all public officials to declare their assets, it does not require them to make these declarations public. Rather, it calls for officials to declare their assets voluntarily. Rep. Foko emphasized that publishing President Weah’s declared assets without his consent is illegal.
“Since this confirmation and Martin’s subsequent court appeals plus appointment to the Asset Recovery Team as head, Weah’s asset declaration form is now all in the public space and on various platforms. I seek this honorable body to invite Cllr. Martin and the entire Team at LACC currently to help furnish this body how the former President’s Asset Declaration form leaked to the public, breaching the confidentiality clause of the LACC,” Rep. Foko said in his communication to the House,” Rep. Foko stated in his communication to the House.
Rep. Foko accused Cllr. Kla Martin of making inconsistent statements regarding President Weah’s asset declaration. He noted that at one point, Martin told media outlets he had no record of former President George Weah filing his assets, which Rep. Foko deemed false and misleading as the General Audit Commission confirmed the President’s asset declaration.
The National Code of Conduct mandates public officials to declare income, assets, and liabilities at specific intervals: prior to taking office, at the end of every three years, upon promotion or progression, upon transfer to another public office, and upon retirement or resignation, to ensure a transparent and accountable governance framework.
Although the former president has not issued any public statement since the leaked documentS, during six-year rule, he and his officials faced criticism for their refusal to declare their assets.
Cllr. Martin served as the Executive Chairperson of the LACC during Weah’s administration. However, he and fellow commissioners were controversially removed following the enactment of a new LACC Act into law. Martin contested his removal in court, accusing the Weah administration and the 54th Legislature of targeting him due to his fight against corruption and his efforts to hold Weah’s officials accountable.
Although he challenged his removal at the Supreme Court, the Court ruled that the Legislature has the power to amend, modify, or abolish the LACC as deemed necessary in the interest of the State, without violating the Constitution.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Martin and the other commissioners were removed. However, he reappeared in government after the election and subsequent inauguration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, this time as the head of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce.