Monrovia – Government lawyers’ special subpoena witness in former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai’s Economic Sabotage case, Stephen S. Howard, has admitted in court that the Weah-led government authorized the change of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) pension account.
Howard, an employee of EcoBank, said the AFL Pension Account with account #:01929522222019 was changed to AFL Welfare and Morale Account with #:0013174717655601 on the instruction(s) of the Weah-led administration.
He made the disclosure on Wednesday, February 25, when he was questioned by the defense team through cross-examination while testifying on the witness stand for the State against the former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai and his two former deputies, Joseph P. Johnson, former Minister for Administration and J. Nyumah Dorkor, former Comptroller.
Defense team: “Mr. Witness, according to you, in 2017 the name of the account (AFL Account) was changed on the instructions of a letter from the Ministry of Defense signed by the Deputy Minister for Administration, now co-defendant Joseph P. Johnson, and former Controller J. Nyumah Dorkor, please say if the signatories remain the same on the account?” Howard replied: “The signatories didn’t remain the same.”
According to Howard, following the change of administration in January 2018, they got the authorized communication from the current government to make the change.
He continued: “Initially, the signature mandate was Brownie J. Samukai and Othello Daniel Wolo. In 2017 after the change, the signature became Brownie J. Samukai, “A” signatory, Daniel D. Ziankahn, “A” signatory, Joseph P. Johnson, “B” signatory, James N. Dorkor, “B” signatory and Prince C. Johnson, “B” signatory.”
Howard, head of Corporate and Investment Banking at EcoBank, testified on behalf of his institution (EcoBank) after it was subpoenaed on Thursday, February 20, by Criminal Court ‘C’ to produce the bank records of the AFL pension accounts.
Howard also testified that since the change of the account in 2017, there have been series of transactions on the account, including withdrawals and deposits.
Defense team: “Mr. Witness, please tell us if you know whether or not since the change of signatory in 2017 just testified to by you whether there were transactions on that account such as withdrawals or deposits to the best of your knowledge. Howard replied: “As evidence by the bank statement, there were transactions after the change, both debits and credits.”
Howard further testified the AFL pension account was changed in 2017 to AFL Morale and Welfare Account on the instruction of the Ministry of National Defense.
However, he said there was a change of the account in 2011 when EcoBank was transitioning from one software to another.
“The account, therefore remained the same but there was only a change of title. The account number changed in 2011 because EcoBank changed her banking from Global to Flex Cube Service,” he testified.
The case has been reassigned for Monday, March 2, for the defense team to present their witnesses on the stand.