A leaked audio recording obtained by this newspaper has exposed an alleged clandestine deal involving Margibi County Representative, Ellen Attoh, revealing details of a budget manipulation scheme amounting to hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars.
Recently, a leaked recording which has been circulating in the public has proven to be the voice of Senator Emmanuel Nuquay of Margibi County, who accordingly has revealed how a budgeted amount initially set at US$20,000 was increased to US$800,000 by Rep. Attoh for LEFZA for the so purpose of supporting her husband political agenda, and maintained that he later reduced it to $600,000 amid allegations of unauthorized and ethnic hiring at the Liberia Economy Free Zone Authority (LEFZA).
According to the recording, the funds were used to hire over 70 individuals at LEFZA, 90% of whom reportedly hail from Margibi County, where LEFZA Director Prince Wreh is from.
In the recording, Senator Nuquay also noted the increased amount was allegedly used as a “yardstick” for hiring beyond the institution’s needs, with new recruits becoming vocal defenders of certain lawmakers online, mainly targeting and criticizing him.
‘So you want me to put my chest on the line for Fonati while Ellen Attoh uses this money to hire people to attack me?” Senator Nuquay can be heard in the recording, expressing his frustration over the orchestrated recruitment allegedly meant to bolster support for Speaker Koffa’s leadership and Rep. Ellen Attoh Wreh’s husband as he’s accused of harboring political ambition.
The recording also revealed pressure from former President George Weah, who urged Senator Nuquay to cease opposing Speaker Koffa. Weah reportedly asked Nuquay to convince Representative Clarence Garr of Margibi County to “forgo his resistance” against the Speaker’s leadership of the 55th National Legislature.
However, Nuquay asserted his stance, stressing that he would not compromise this to protect his political convenience.
He recounted his conversation, expressing dismay that funds were being used to promote the political agenda of individuals like Representative Attoh while he faced backlash.
The leaked recording also implicates Margibi County Representative Clarence Garr, who, according to Nuquay, has long opposed Speaker Koffa’s leadership.
The recording implies that Garr’s resistance stems from Koffa’s previous role in advocating for the removal of Kabineh Ja’neh as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia. Nuquay further noted that the strained relations between Koffa and Representative Garr, backed by Senator Alex Tyler of Bomi County, who shares a controversial political history.
Nuquay alleged that Representative Attoh’s husband is using funds passed through the clandestine budget, orchestrating the employment of supporters who have since launched social media attacks against him. “You want me to support a system where Ellen Attoh funnels money to her husband to recruit people to attack me online?” he remarked in the recording.
The disclosure has the proclivity of igniting widespread outrage, with citizens questioning the integrity of Liberia’s lawmakers.
The alleged misuse of public funds to inflate budgets and secure unauthorized hires raises concerns about the transparency of the nation’s legislative processes.
With the allegations now public, citizens and advocacy groups could demand a thorough investigation to hold accountable those involved in what is being viewed as a gross abuse of power.
Calls for accountability could also intensify, with the implications of this revelation extending far beyond the House of Representatives, potentially affecting political alliances and trust within Liberia’s Legislature.
But when contacted, the Representatives of Margibi County District 3 Rep. Ellen Atton-Werh denied allegation, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
She said the Liberia Economy Free Zone Authority is not a private entity but government-owned, stating that it is in no way that she can allot 800,000K to an entity without the input of other members of the committee.
Madam Atton-Werh explained that allotting funds to entities is squarely under the supervision of the Executive and not the Legislature as it is being speculated.
“The way the budget work, the budget come from the executive with the figure with in it and how can I alone allot 800, 000 to an entity without the knowledge of other when the committee is consist of 30 members of both sides, the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate of which Sen. Nuquay is part of stating that what Sen. Nuquay is alleging is not true but to destroy my hard earned reputation,” Rep. Atton-Werh stressed.
Madam Atton-Werh told this paper the allotment of the 800,000 was previously done by the Executive and after the reviewing of the budget of the LEFZA by the Legislature, the budget of the entity was reduced to 600,000 of which she disclosed that Sen. Nuquay, knowing the importance of the entity, added additional 50,000 which accordingly resulted to 650,000.
She also narrated that Sen. Nuquay, being the Chair on State Owned Enterprise, and knowing the importance of the entity, decided to add additional 50,000 to the previous 600,000 budget formulated by the Legislature.
Moreover, the Margibi County lawmaker Described Sen. Nuquay allegation as false and misleading, stating that it was only meant to destroy her hard earned reputation that she has tried to build over the years, but maintained that she will not be deterred but will always stand up for the true and nothing but the truth, for the betterment of the country.