Monrovia – Supporters and close allies of former Chief of Protocol, Madam Nora Finda Bundoo, have mounted a vigorous defense against what they describe as politically motivated corruption and money laundering charges brought against her and others by the Assets Recovery Taskforce.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The group insists that the charges are a deliberate attempt by the Unity Party-led administration of President Joseph Boakai to silence key opposition voices, undermine the political strength of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and discredit Bundoo’s long-standing reputation as a law-abiding businesswoman and public servant.
The indictment, which also names businessman John S. Youboty of MDMC Company and Madam Thelma Duncan Sawyer, widow of former Interim President Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition politicians, civil society organizations, and members of the business community.
Many are calling the case a classic example of selective justice and political retaliation disguised as an anti-corruption campaign.
In a passionate statement in Monrovia, former Presidential Aide Sekou Kalasco Damaro described the indictment as a calculated act of political persecution. He accused the Boakai administration of hypocrisy, noting that the same government branding the Anita Group of Company as “illegal” continues to issue it valid licenses and tax clearances.
“The Assets Recovery called the legal agreement illegal, so if this was an illegal deal between Anita Group of Company and the Ministry of Defense, why is it that the Minister who signed the deal on behalf of Defense is not part of the indictment? Is it because he serves as Special Military Advisor to Mr. Boakai? Pure witch-hunt and selective justice,” Kalasco stated.
He continued, “This government, through the Business Registry Office, provided Anita Group of Company its 2024/2025 Certificate of Business Registration. If this entity is illegal, why keep them registered under your administration?”
Documents in the possession of FrontPageAfrica confirm that the Anita Group of Company, a business entity linked to Madam Bundoo, is legally registered under Liberian law. The company holds a valid business certificate issued by the Liberian Business Registry and has been fully compliant with its tax obligations, securing a 2024/2025 tax clearance from the Liberia Revenue Authority.
The company also signed a legally binding Rice Supply Framework Agreement with the Ministry of National Defense on May 27, 2022, duly notarized by the Office of the Notary Public of Montserrado County. The agreement, signed by then Minister of Defense, Hon. Daniel D. Ziankahn Jr., authorized Anita Group of Company to supply over 64,000 bags of long grain milled rice in 25-kilogram packages during the fiscal year 2022.
The legal documentation, also endorsed by the Ministries of Finance and Justice, confirms that the transaction was officially sanctioned by the Government of Liberia, making it difficult for critics to reconcile the government’s current position that the deal was “illegal.”
According to Kalasco, this contradiction demonstrates the politically driven nature of the case. “Under this same Boakai administration, Anita Group remains tax compliant and continues to receive government-recognized licenses. You cannot call a company illegal while still collecting taxes and issuing certifications to it. This is not justice; this is vengeance,” Kalasco asserted.
The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has also weighed in heavily on the issue, describing the charges against Bundoo and her alleged associates as “bogus, deceitful, and politically motivated.” In a lengthy press statement issued in Monrovia, the party accused the Unity Party government of weaponizing state institutions against its political rivals to distract public attention from its own governance failures.
“In the face of gaping violations of the rule of law, massive ongoing corruption, rising prices of goods and services, and the shameful decline in economic growth from 4.7 percent in 2023 to 4 percent in 2024, the UP has resorted to intensifying its witch-hunts against former officials of the CDC,” the statement said.
“Our nation is witnessing a calculated political witch-hunt headlined by bogus charges against Nora Finda Bundoo, John S. Youboty, and H.E. Madam Thelma Duncan Sawyer. These charges are laughable at best and will be fiercely resisted both legally and politically.”
The CDC further accused President Boakai’s administration of betraying its own campaign promises of integrity and transparency, claiming that the government’s anti-corruption crusade has instead turned into a selective purge of opposition figures.
The statement emphasized that “this government has turned the fight against corruption into a weapon of political repression,” adding that “while the Unity Party pretends to be fighting corruption, it ignores ongoing acts of graft within its own administration and continues to waste public funds on extravagant travels and unnecessary expenditures.”
Several political and social commentators have echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the indictment is not rooted in law but in politics. One independent analyst noted that “the charges against Finda Bundoo have little to do with corruption and everything to do with political fear. Bundoo is a powerful woman with influence, networks, and resources that the ruling party views as a threat.”
Another civil society advocate argued that “the Assets Recovery Taskforce is losing credibility because of its bias. Real anti-corruption work requires impartiality. When the government begins to target opposition figures while ignoring corruption among its own ranks, it destroys public confidence and undermines the rule of law.”
A member of the Liberian business community described the indictment as both inconsistent and alarming. “If the Anita Group of Company has a valid business license, pays taxes, and operates under Liberian law, then accusing it of illegality without revoking its registration or presenting clear evidence makes no sense,” he said. “It sends the wrong message to investors and creates fear in the private sector.”
Within the CDC, there is growing unity and determination to rally behind Bundoo and others targeted by the Asset Recovery team. Senior party members are mobilizing legal and political resources to fight back against what they call “a pattern of intimidation and harassment designed to destroy opposition voices.”
“The CDC will not allow the weaponization of our courts nor the political demolition of our institutions to go unchallenged,” the party stated. “We call upon all Liberians to remain vigilant, united, and firm against these undemocratic tactics. Our struggle is for justice, for truth, and for the protection of our nation’s democratic future.”
As public debate over the case intensifies, the indictment of Bundoo and others has become one of the most controversial political developments of the Boakai administration. While the government insists that it is pursuing accountability and recovering stolen assets, critics argue that the administration’s approach reflects selective justice and political revenge, rather than a genuine commitment to transparency.
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