In the wake of the recent expulsion of the embattled Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission Cllr. A. Ndubusi Nwabudike from the Liberia National Bar Association, the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has written to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies, J. Milton Teahjay, calling for the withdrawal of Cllr. Nwabudike as Chairperson of the LACC.
According to a June 29, 2020 communication to Senator Milton Teahjay, the Chairman of MOVEE Dan Sayee entreated the attention of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agency to the illegal occupancy of the Chairmanship of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission by Cllr. A. Ndubusi Nwabudike.
“Cllr. Nwabudike was nominated by President George M. Weah to serve as Chairperson for the National Election Commission but denied confirmation by your Honorable Committee for providing contradictory and fraudulent documentation to acquired Liberian citizenship prior; he was confirmed to serve as National Chairperson to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission – the country’s foremost Anti-graft agency established to fight corruption and promote probity in public service,” the MOVEE communication to the Liberian Senate stated.
Continuing further, MOVEE noted that although Cllr. Nwabudike succeeded in smartly “dribbling the three branches to have criminally infiltrated every structure of our political and governance system that cannot serve as justification to have him illegally preside over the LACC which has citizenship requirement to become a Commissioner.”
Cllr. Nwabudike’s persistent occupation of the LACC chairmanship, according to MOVEE, constitutes an act of arrogance, defiance to the country’s law and underscores the systemic weakness of Liberia’s governance system.
“It is disturbing that you, the confirming authority, as well as the appointing authority, have chosen to remain mute despite widespread public condemnation across diverse spectrum of the Liberian society,” MOVEE stated.
“In view of the foregoing and in consideration of your oversight responsibility, MOVEE requests your intervention to restore the integrity of the LACC. We are of the conviction that your committee is well placed to salvage what is fast becoming an unhealthy precedent for our governance system,” MOVEE noted.
The political party which had formed an alliance with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change during the 2017 presidential and general elections said it believes Cllr. Nwabudike should be withdrawn consistent with part VI section 6.3 of the LACC act, as he has not been able to demonstrate that he is a Liberian.
“The same grounds for his withdrawal from the National Elections Commission nomination similarly holds for the LACC nomination. Accordingly, only Liberians with good moral character can be appointed as commissioner to the LACC. Section 6.8 states that any of the commissioners shall be removed from office by the president for any gross breach of duty, misconduct in office, or any proven act of corruption. Consistent with part V section 5.2 (a-m) the senate failures to withdraw the nomination of Cllr. Nwabudike as Chairman of the LACC will ultimately impair the function of the commission to fight corruption,” MOVEE asserted.
“In affirmation of Cllr. Nwabudike’s fraudulent acquisition of his citizenship to get admitted into the practice of law, the Liberia Bar Association following the collaboration of evidence expelled Cllr. Nwabudike days ago. This further explains why Cllr. Nwabudike should be withdrawn from the LACC.
Honorable Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on autonomous agencies, MOVEE requests your timely intervention to save the integrity of the LACC. We recall the eminent role of corruption in our country’s decade and half years of civil conflict which precipitated the establishment of the anti-corruption commission. It is our hope that your committee will invite Cllr. Nwabudike to state why he should not be withdrawn or removed as chairman of the LACC,” MOVEE declared.