Ready To Add Firepower To Corruption Fight -Assets Recovery Team Assures President Boakai

MONROVIA – Liberia’s number one public enemy, corruption, has for all this while enjoyed a cozy atmosphere powered by lip-service, rhetoric and slogans such that political regime after another, it grows exponentially firm to the disadvantage of the nation and its people. Under the Unity Party regime headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, public perceptions about abuse and waste are similarly commonplace and, like its predecessors, the administration is heavily being criticized for doing little and/or cherry-picking where it attempts to do something. However, the Asset Recovery and Properties Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) set up by the President a year ago has sought to cut the corner. But in the last months, its efforts got a hit by a legal suit at the Supreme Court regarding its nature and powers, and after the lull, it has bounced back, promising the President Boakai and by extension the general public that it’s ready to “add adequate firepower” to its aggression against public thieves. The Analyst reports.

The head of the special presidential taskforce, the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, has assured President Joseph Nyuma Boakai after a legal battle unleashed at it by a private company about its powers and activities, it has resurfaced and ready “to add firepower to the war on corruption and the illegal possession of stolen and suspicious assets”.

Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing event on Thursday, February 20, 2025, the taskforce leader, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, lauded President Boakai for his support, and vowed that “there will be no more interference as all of its command structures have been legally reinforced to resist the evil forces of corruption and theft”.

“Today, Liberia has regained its international dignity and reputation as a consequence of the hard work and performance by H. E Joseph Nyuma Boakai,” he said. “Over the period of one year, the president has demonstrated and set standards for national development and for the first time in the governance of Liberia declared war against corruption through his action of suspension and submission of those involved to investigation.”

Cllr Martin asserted that for such as dramatic and bold step, “AREPT extends profound gratitude to the president and promise him that it has resurfaced from its legal battle to add firepower to the war on corruption and the illegal possession of stolen and suspicious assets”.

The Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force came into existence as a consequence of Executive Order #126 which was announced by the President in consonance with his constitutional powers granted him by the 1986 constitution under Chapter 2 Article 5c.

Apart from its functions and responsibilities to identify, trace, and recover stolen assets. AREPT was empowered with several mandates which include identify and trace all of Liberia’s stolen and suspicious assets within and out of the borders of Liberia; constitute investigative panel to probe into Liberia’s stolen and suspicious assets; constitute an effective and robust legal, research, and investigative team to procure and prepare tangible evidence.

Other responsibilities are to initiate immediate criminal prosecution and civil litigation where applicable on behalf of the Government of Liberia; upon adjudication, return confiscated assets to Liberia; place travel and other restrictions on all individuals identified as suspects while undergoing investigation for stolen and suspicious assets; employ diplomatic and Interpol means to extradite individuals identified as suspects that are outside the bailiwick of Liberia in order to bring them under the jurisdiction of the investigation team.

Gracious Ride Legal Battle

As AREPT was still in its puberty, it encountered a lawsuit at the Supreme Court filed by a private company, Gracious Ride or Anita Group/Gracious Ride after the anti-graft agency effected an investigation and seizure of the company’s fleet of vehicles in line with this mandate.

It can be recalled AREPT team of investigators along with other state actors elected to make inquiry of Gracious Ride legitimate title documents since its acquisition and operations as a transport company were suspicious.

Following this action, AREPT received eight court writs from Gracious Ride who was under its investigation for suspicious assets triggering Supreme Court stay order on its investigations and activities.

According to Cllr Martin, AREPT made six requests for assignment for the disposition of the matter and fortunately for AREPT, the matter was formally assigned on January 14, 2025 and after final argument, the Honorable Court ruled and denied Anita Group/ Gracious Ride petition thereby legitimizing the constitutional power of Executive Order #126 on February 18, 2025.

He said he was super proud to state that the AREPT legal team headed by him defeated Anita Group/ Gracious Ride in all of its eight legal engagements. we are set to beat anyone legally who will challenge the legitimacy and authority of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force. Congratulations to the entire membership and the legal team of AREPT for this victory.

He said over the period the nine months of the stay order, his entity complied with the Supreme Court order in obedience to the rule of law and that now that the Supreme Court has ruled in AREPT’s favor, same has settled the legality and legitimacy over Executive Order #126 and the constitutional existence of the Task Force in consonance with Article 5c of the 1986 constitution.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, AREPT states that willful and deliberate refusal on the part of persons of interest not to respect its invitation, its investigative panel will be left with no alternative but use available evidence in its possession to formally charge, indict and subsequently prosecute said person in keeping with the rule of law.

Moving Forward

With the legal battle won and back to job, the AREPT boss stated his organization has verified and taken seizure of 17 high-profiled cases, ranging from theft of public assets, acquisition of suspicious property, theft thru fake road construction companies, construction firms and theft of liquid assets.

He said during the period of the nine months of stay order, person of interest acting under the cover of darkness criminally transferred suspicious money from their accounts, changed bank accounts, illegally crossed GOL vehicles to neighboring countries and sold them, resprayed, and changed the original identity of GOL vehicles, change title deed overnight, and falsified documents to invade the original identity of Gol assets.

“AREPT wants to inform the media and the general public that its surveillance and intelligence unit is on full alert and those involved will be exposed,” Cllr. Martin averred, adding that in the meanwhile, AREPT is requesting the media and the public to report acts of theft in the following categories of suspicious homes in communities, GoL Assets (Vehicles, earth moving equipment/ yellow machine, etc.

He reported establishing international cooperation with dozens of international partners in the UK, Ghana, and Nigeria and that, as a mark of solidarity and support to AREPT, one of its partners from the UK is expected in Liberia soon to assist in the review of its evidence and provide support to the government of Liberia in the fight against corruption.

“Through the aid of our international partners, AREPT has identified three shot spots in the world where Liberia’s stolen liquid assets have been banked and invested: Ghana, Ivory Coast and Dubai,” he disclosed. “We are working overnight with our partners to ensure that proper international protocols and litigation are applied for the reparation of those assets.”

AREPT reiterates that will move the legal battle in those hotspots to ensure that Liberia’s stolen assets are identified, traced and recover, anticipating that all officials of government will honor its invitation in the event they are needed to aid its investigations.

“AREPT maintains that their compliance will enhance and provide speed to its investigations,” the learned lawyer said. “In conclusion, Liberia has gone through a lot as a consequence of theft and corruption. It is about time that we rise up to this fight. When this battle is won, our infrastructure development will transform, hospitals, Schools, and roads will be modernized to meet international standards.”

He added: “Join AREPT in this fight. No turning back, no business as usual, no more impunity. There will be no witch hunt but there will be a hunt for stolen and suspicious assets.”