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Damning Audit Triggers Legal Showdown Over Alleged Overspending, Missing Records
By Myean D Torgbean
Monrovia — The Ministry of Justice has moved to compel senior officials of the Liberian Senate to produce critical financial documents, following explosive audit findings that question nearly US$27 million in excess spending.
In a filing before Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, government lawyers requested a writ of subpoena duces tecum, seeking to force Senate authorities to submit bank records, contracts, payment vouchers, receipts, and documentation identifying officials linked to disputed transactions.
The legal action stems from a sweeping audit conducted by the General Audit Commission (GAC), which examined the Senate’s financial operations from Fiscal Year 2018/2019 through FY 2023. The audit period formally closed on March 31, 2024.
US$26.9 Million in Question
According to court filings, the Senate was approved to spend US$88.9 million over the five-year period. However, its internal IFMIS ledger reportedly shows expenditures totaling US$117.9 million — an excess of US$26.9 million beyond legislative approval.
Even figures from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) present discrepancies. While the Ministry reported total outturns of US$91 million for the same period, an additional US$2 million remains unexplained.
The variances appear even more pronounced in specific fiscal years.
In FY 2022, the MFDP reported US$7.7 million in operational spending, yet the Senate’s own ledger allegedly recorded US$15.2 million — creating a gap of more than US$7.5 million.
For FY 2023, the Senate’s IFMIS ledger reportedly listed US$18.1 million in expenditures, while its financial statements reflected only US$15.4 million, leaving nearly US$2.7 million unaccounted for. When compared with MFDP outturns of US$18.5 million, the discrepancy reportedly widens to over US$3 million.
Undocumented Transactions
The subpoena request further alleges that several payments were made without supporting documentation — including contracts, invoices, vouchers, or delivery notes. Among the questioned transactions are US$4.2 million in undocumented payments, along with concerns about unremitted pension contributions and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Four Special Independent Counsels — Cllr. Aloysius Toe, Cllr. George D. W. Sagbeh, Cllr. Tommy Dogba, and Cllr. Elisha T. J. Forkeyoh — argue that obtaining the requested documents is critical to determine whether public funds were misused and whether criminal charges may be warranted.
Legal Battle Looms
If granted, the writ would legally compel Senate officials to surrender the financial records as part of the Justice Ministry’s ongoing probe.
The unfolding investigation signals what could become one of the most significant financial accountability cases involving the Liberian Legislature in recent years.
As of press time, Senate authorities had not publicly responded to the Justice Ministry’s court filing.
More details are expected as the matter proceeds before the court.
