MONROVIA – Barely a day after his resignation, the former comptroller of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), J. Bernard Nagbe, has been mandated by the Board of Commissioners of the Commission to remain in the country until the completion of a financial and institutional audit being carried out by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
Mr. Nagbe resigned on Monday in a harsh-worded communication addressed to the Board of the LACC, citing delays in the payment of his just salaries and benefits as reasons responsible for his resignation.
“I am constrained to tender my resignation on grounds of uncertainty with my salary and benefits. I am not receiving my remuneration on time and my service to the government and the people of Liberia is not for free. I owe my life, career and service to my country, but ultimately my family comes first,” he stated.
Nagbe continued: “I have never had this experience in my professional life and never am I prepare to endure this nonsense. I cannot and will not never work without pay.”
It seems that the ex-comptroller of the LACC has fallen into trouble by surreptitiously resigning from a job he held for a little over a decade.
In a press statement issued in Monrovia on Tuesday under the signature of Attorney Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh, Executive Director of the LACC, the commission’s Board requested Mr. Nagbe to remain in the country to fully cooperate with the GAC for the speedy completion of the audit.
“Notwithstanding, the unprofessional and unethical nature of Mr. Nagbe’s actions, the LACC Board of Commissioners (BOC) respects the wishes of Mr. Nagbe and hereby accepts his resignation,” the release states.
It adds: “However, the LACC BOC emphasizes that given the critical nature of the role previously occupied by Mr. Nagbe, a role indispensable to the completion of the pending GAC audit, the BOC strongly advises its former Comptroller to remain in the country and to fully cooperate with the GAC for the speedy completion of the ongoing audit”.
The commission further expressed shock and astonishment over the ‘abrupt and unprofessional nature’ of the resignation of Mr. Nagbe at the time a financial and institutional audit has commenced at the agency.
“unprofessional and unethical nature of Mr. Nagbe’s actions, the LACC Board of Commissioners (BOC) respects the wishes of Mr. Nagbe and hereby accepts his resignation.”
– Statement, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission
Clarifications
The LACC clarifies that all of its employees have consistently received their salaries since its inception in 2008 up to September 2019.
The commission discloses that its employees are also poised to receive their salaries for the month of October, but failed to state a definite time the employees’ salaries for last month will be disbursed in their respective accounts at commercial banks in the country.
“Considering this, the LACC further represents that Mr. Nagbe’s actions smacks of sabotage subterfuge and ingratitude to the LACC given that he was one of the first employees of the commission since December 2008 and has for 11 consecutive years received salaries, benefits and logistics as a senior staff of the commission in a timely manner to date,” the release notes.
Reactions
The latest release from the LACC has been greeted with mixed reactions from scores of Liberians.
Some citizens believed that the latest statement issued by the LACC amounts to witch-hunt, while others think that Mr. Nagbe should submit to an audit in keeping with best international standards.
“I think Mr. Nagbe should have stay at the entity and subject himself to the ongoing audit by the GAC before resigning but he did the contrary. Let the public be the judge as it relates to the actions of Mr. Nagbe,” James Bill Crayton writes.
Kalocious J. Dorbor: “He know that he will be caught in the Spider’s wed that is the reason he is running away….. But will be punished for his illegal efforts.”
“Cdcian mehn… your stop the witch hunt and do something about fixing the economy. Just now I say Costa coming!!!!!! Looka Cdcian running and asking me where is he.? Costa still in America don’t be scare,” Kai Stanley Kollie .
Lanslot E. Duo: “Your get money in the country before your want audit? Your take the situation in Liberia to be politics went it is a reality. That your all will give Weah pressure. Nonsense.”
It remains unclear whether or not the Board of Commissioners of the LACC has forwarded its mandate to the Ministry of Justice for possible actions that would prevent Mr. Nagbe from departing the country, until he is clear off the reported ongoing GAC audit being conducted at the LACC.