HOR to Probe Nat’l ID Card Syndicate

MONROVIA – House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers has appointed a 5 Man Specialized Committee to investigate an alleged National ID Card Syndicate which occurred in the Jacob town Community in 2020.

According to a press statement from the House of Representatives, those appointed are Rep. Cllr. Kanie Wesso(Chairman) and Rep. Ivar Jones (Co-chairman) while Representatives James Kolleh, Alexander Poure and Joseph Somwarbi were appointed as members.

The Committee has been tasked to investigate evidence from the complainant, Representative Jimmy Smith of District #2 who alleged that Foday Kanneh, an Enrolment Officer of the National Identification Registry(NIR) was seen illegally printing National ID Cards in the compound of Strong FM and a local clinic in the Jacob Town community. The committee has been given a two week time frame to investigate the allegation and make its report.

The Committee will  also probe  reports from the NIR and the Liberia National  Police (LNP),  who admitted  to the enrollment of residents of Jacob Town by NIR  Enrollment  Officer, but  said there were no National  ID Cards printed  as alleged by the complainant.

The NIR Executive Director J. Tiah Nagbe, said upon tip-off, Mr. Kanneh was arrested by the LNP in the Jacob Town Community and subsequently detained.

Nagbe said following an investigation by the LNP, it was recommended for an administrative punishment to be levied against the enrollment Officer for what the LNP termed as “Procedural Errors.”

“We suspended Mr. Kanneh for two months without salary and benefits, and he is still in the employ of NIR,” Mr. Nagbe asserted.

The LNP Deputy Director General Prince Mulbah indicated that the Police had ruled out criminal links and therefore recommended administrative punishment.

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