NOCAL CEO Rejects Corruption Allegations -Says it’s Work of Detractors Who Must ‘Wait for their Time’

MONROVIA – The covetous post of Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia has hardly been without cynics’ suspicions bordering graft and corruption. Since the creation of NOCAL as a state-owned enterprise, charged with the task of overseeing the country’s oil sector, its headship, from political regime to another, continues to attract weird public perceptions or misperceptions, and it seems the term of incumbent Rustonly Suacoco Dennis is here, particularly amplified in the wake of news of the last few weeks regarding international bidding processes for explorations in the basin. But as The Analyst reports, the CEO is proportionally shrugging the allegations, terming the recent volleys of corruption allegations as the work of detractors whom she taunts to wait for their time.   

 In her response to strings of corruption allegations targeting her, NOCAL Chief Executive Officer Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis has fired back at her accusers, cautioning them to wait for their time because “not everyone can become CEO at the same time”.

Taking to the social media yesterday, Monday, following media reports that she had ordered the disbursement of US$75,000 from NOCAL SIB Bank Account in November 2024 to buy a single car for herself, but ended up buying a vehicle for US$46,000, CEO Dennis rubbished the allegations.

It can be recalled the media became awash in recent times with corruption allegations concerning the CEO of NOCAL regarding what was described as a dubious procurement transaction for her official vehicle.

According to activist Martin K.N. Kollie, a new vehicle was recently purchased for CEO Rustonlyn Dennis for which a disbursement of US$75,000 was authorized from NOCAL’s SIB Bank Account in November 2024.

“It is called MG 2024 Rx8 seven-seater SUV. With the approval of CEO Rustonlyn Dennis, US$75,000 was disbursed from the NOCAL SIB Bank Account in November 2024 to buy a single car for the CEO. The records at NOCAL show that only one (1) car was bought for US$75,000. We investigated further. The MG 2024 Rx8 seven-seater SUV is not sold for US$75K as claimed. It is sold for US$46K at a duty-paid price with a discount of US$43 to US$45K at Cactus Motors in Liberia.”

He continued: “Ms. Dennis bought this car US$45K from Cactus Motors and requested US$30K in kickback. The plate number is A6366. Cactus could not refund US$30K because it could have tax implications on them. So, CEO Rustolyn Dennis took another car for US$30K and registered it as a private vehicle under her private sanitary company called “Tanti Group of Companies” https://www.facebook.com/share/163QeAMHP5/?mibextid=wwXIfr and https://www.facebook.com/share/1548aYHMh6/?mibextid=wwXIfr.

“To have even disbursed US$75K for a single car is a crime. The Car Import and Purchasing Policy explicitly caps vehicle purchases for public officials at US$45,000. The former Commerce Minister had to resign because of this. We will see what Pres. Boakai would do in Ms. Dennis’s case.

Mr. Kollie disclosed how she stands accused of dishing out thousands of USD to her “supporters” in District #4 as “Financial Assistance” from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funds of NOCAL.

“She’s even financing the DV programs of some of her ‘supporters’. We’ve attached our evidence. We also have several passports of “beneficiaries” in our possession.

“The system is rotten; inherently corrupt. Corruption is eating up the Boakai-led administration like cancer. No one is being held accountable or sent to jail for stealing from the people. The people are the victims. The suffering in Liberia is artificial. It is man-made. The Liberian people are going through what we call “manufactured hardship.” The so-called “leaders” in Liberia are corrupt, greedy, unpatriotic, and insensitive.

“We call on Pres. Boakai to suspend/dismiss Ms. Dennis and turn her over for investigation and subsequent prosecution. We will watch to see what Pres. Boakai will do. We call on the media and civil society organizations to follow up on this development. As an activist, our work is to protect people’s interests. Our job is to fight for the nation, including people who cannot fight for themselves,” Kollie said.

CEO Dennis Retorts

In her short but measured response to accusations she called rubbish, Hon Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis wrote: “The CEO of Nocal’s official car is not 75k. The CEO is aware that the position is of trust and it carries sensitive information. Therefore, a CEO will not ride in one car with her drivers, securities and staffers.”

She continued: “The CEO has a utility vehicle for errand. Yes. The CEO may use her utility if need arises and use her official vehicle for official matters. The CEO encourages young Liberian to learn to work together and not everyone will be CEO at the same time.

“The CEO states strongly she doesn’t sign cheques alone, but rather with a Vice President of Finance and cheques signed passed through scrutiny. The CEO will not cowtow to powwow.”