Liberia: CDC Morlu Says Former Pres. Sirleaf ‘Undermining’ Legal Proceedings Against Her Son, Others

Monrovia – The Chairman of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. has warned ex-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to desist from ‘undermining’ the ongoing legal proceedings against current and past officials of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) in the wake of the damning report about the missing L$16 billion.

Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh 00231880881540 / 00231777769531 /[email protected]

The US-backed Kroll and the Special Presidential Task Force respective reports point out several discrepancies in the printing of over L$15 billion Liberian Dollars (US$100,000,000) by the CBL and the handling of US$25 million intended to mop-up excess Liberian dollars on the market to stabilize the rapidly increasing exchange note between the Liberian dollars and the United States dollars.

Following the release of the report, Police have rounded up several current and past CBL officials including Charles Sirleaf, the CBL current Deputy Governor for Operations.

Charles if the son of former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Also, Dorbor Hagba, CBL current Director for Banking and former CBL Governor, Milton Weeks have all been arrested.

They have been charged by the Liberia National Police for economic sabotage, misuse of public money, criminal conspiracy and criminal facilitation and are currently in jail at the Monrovia Central Prison awaiting trial.

However, Mr. Morlu, writing on his Facebook page claimed that he has evidence that former president Sirleaf is doing everything behind the scene to influence negative media coverage against government’s effort to prosecute alleged corrupt CBL officials.

“We are gathering facts that on last Friday, 1^st March 2019, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had a nighttime meeting at her home in efforts to undermine ongoing investigation in the CBL arrest,” Morlu wrote on his Facebook page.

“We are now confirming that she’s meeting with a selected group of journalists today to influence negative coverage against Government’s efforts to prosecute alleged corrupt CBL officials.”

Writing further, the ruling party Chairman denounced that the former president’s alleged efforts to influence negative media reporting against government is not only unpatriotic but “selfish and unlawful”.

“She has to be seen as supporting the President as he contains the Vampire she once declared and had feared throughout her presidency,” he wrote.

He furthered that the fight against corruption is a moral national responsibility that should galvanize collective support of all.

“his Excellency’s decision to wield the anti-corruption axe is not merely to fulfil a campaign promise but is based on the outcome of credible and unimpeachable investigative reports,” he said.

Aiming further jibe at the former president, Morlu asserted that President Weah is doing what other leaders failed to do in the past and with the unprecedented public support, he will stop at nothing in cleaning the ‘mess’ and protecting the public ‘trust.’

Writing further, he cautioned: “The former president needs to retrospect the enormous respect and goodwill our current President has always shown her and refrain from anti-corruption effort being waged within the framework of the rule of law”

“While it’s her right to rise to the defense of her son,” Morlu noted, “that should be done through the court of law; not subterranean maneuvers that contravene collective will or violate laws.” He warned that “attempting to undermine a credible and popular moral and legal necessity is a perpetual impossibility,” adding, “in my opinion, what we are seeing is just a tip of the iceberg in the fight against corruption. The Vampire will be legally contained and sent back to its dark and isolated abyss, please don’t try to interfere. Liberia is a country of laws.”