Monrovia ( November 6,2024) -A leaked audio recording obtained by Dnnews Liberia has uncovered an alleged secret deal involving Margibi County Representative Ellen Attoh, exposing a budget manipulation scheme worth hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. The recording reveals details about how funds were allegedly misused for political purposes, leading to concerns about corruption within the Liberia Free Zone Authority (LFZA).
In the recording, Senator Emmanuel Nuquay of Margibi County discusses how an initial budget allocation of US$20,000 was drastically inflated to US$800,000 by Rep. Attoh, only to be later adjusted to US$600,000. The increase in funds was allegedly tied to questionable hiring practices at the LFZA, where accusations of unauthorized and ethnically motivated employment have emerged.
The recording suggests that over 70 individuals were hired under these inflated budgetary figures, with 90% of the new recruits reportedly coming from Margibi County—Rep. Attoh’s home region. LFZA Director, Mr. Prince Wreh, who is also from Margibi, is said to have been involved in this recruitment drive. The funds, according to the leaked conversation, were used as a “yardstick” to hire more people than the LFZA needed, with many of these hires later becoming vocal supporters of certain lawmakers, particularly targeting and criticizing Senator Nuquay.
Senator Nuquay’s frustration is evident in the recording as he questions, “So, you want me to put my chest on the line for Fonati while Ellen Attoh uses this money to hire people to attack me?” He further suggests that the recruitment was part of a broader political strategy to support Speaker Koffa’s leadership and to advance the ambitions of Rep. Attoh’s husband, who is allegedly seeking political influence.
In addition to these claims, the recording reveals pressure from former President George Weah, who is said to have urged Senator Nuquay to stop opposing Speaker Koffa. Weah reportedly asked Nuquay to convince Margibi Representative Clarence Garr to abandon his resistance to Koffa’s leadership. However, Nuquay stood firm in his opposition, refusing to back down for political convenience.
Nuquay’s conversation sheds light on the growing tension between him and certain members of the legislature. The leaked audio also implicates Representative Clarence Garr, who has long opposed Speaker Koffa, citing Koffa’s involvement in advocating for the removal of Kabineh Ja’neh as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Nuquay notes the strained political relationship between Garr and Koffa, with support from Senator Alex Tyler of Bomi County, who has a controversial political history with Koffa.
Nuquay directly accuses Representative Attoh’s husband of orchestrating the misuse of funds to recruit supporters who have since launched online attacks against him. “You want me to support a system where Ellen Attoh funnels money to her husband to recruit people to attack me online?” Nuquay is heard saying in the recording, further escalating the accusations.
This revelation has the potential to spark widespread outrage, as citizens begin to question the integrity and transparency of Liberia’s legislative processes. The misuse of public funds to inflate budgets and create unauthorized positions for political gain has raised alarms across the nation.
With the story now in the public domain, advocacy groups and concerned citizens are likely to demand a thorough investigation. There is growing pressure for accountability, as the implications of these revelations could extend beyond the House of Representatives and affect political dynamics within Liberia’s broader legislative system. The scandal could have far-reaching consequences, calling into question the trust and legitimacy of the country’s elected officials.
