MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate will on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, deliberate on how to address issues surrounding the nationality of Cllr. A. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, head of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). The Senate in its plenary session on Thursday, set the date to discuss the status of the Nigerian native’s Liberian citizenship.
Initially, he was nominated chair of the National Election Commission, but the Senate rejected him.
On Thursday, Senator Darius Dillon of Montserrado County asked his colleagues to pass a vote of no confidence in the LACC boss because he lied about his nationality during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies.
The committee refused to conform Nwabudike on grounds that he provided contradicting information regarding his date of birth and failed to prove that he went through the legal procedures to obtain Liberian citizenship.
When Nwabudike’s failure to prove his Liberian citizenship forced President George Manneh Weah to withdraw his nomination as chair of the NEC.
During Thursday’s plenary session, the Senate leadership headed Pro-temp Albert Chie and Senator Gble-Gbo Brown of Maryland County pleaded with the plenary to give them until January 28, 2021, to produce comprehensive report that would resolve the issues surrounding Nwabudike’s citizenship.
The debate about Cllr. A. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, position as chairman at the LACC is a long standing debate in the Liberian Senate. Many, including senators Prince Johnson of Nimba County, Conmany Wesseh (Rivergee) and Steve Zargo (Lofa), have been pushing Chie to resolve the issue.
Some argue that the Senate is not the place to hire or fire people in the executive branch. That authority lies with the president, they said.
The Liberian Bar Association led by its president Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe investigated the matter and determined that Nwabudike is a fraudster. He lied about his citizenship.
Section 6.3 of the LACC Act says, “Each member of the Commission shall be a Liberian citizen of not less than thirty (30) years of age, of good moral character in the community, and with proven records in anti-corruption advocacy or professional training and/or experience in law, law enforcement, accounting, auditing or a related field.
It has become crystal clear that this Nigerian lawyer by virtue of the requirements as stated in Act that created the LACC does not deserve the privilege to serve as a corruption fighter.
Section 6.2 of the LACC Act states that “The five (5) Commissioners shall be nominated by the President. The President may consult the civil society pursuant to the partnership between Governments and said civil society in the fight against corruption. Upon being confirmed by the Liberian Senate, the Commissioners shall subsequently be appointed and commissioned to their respective offices by the President.”
The crafters of the Act were very cognizant of the role of the civil society in shaping the democratic growth and social justice in a nation. The President must note that several integrity civil society organizations began calling for his removal from the LACC after his disgraceful flop at the Senate.