The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce has received a slap in the face from the Supreme Court over the manner in which it is conducting its asset retrieval mandate—embarrassingly obstructing the free movement of private citizens on the streets while on their way to or from work, without any clue of the individuals being in possession of government’s asset.
The Justice in Chambers of the Supreme Court, His Honor Yussif D. Kaba, has ordered President Joseph N. Boakai’s Asset Recovery Taskforce, headed by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, to release all vehicles belonging to the former Chief of Protocol of the Executive Mansion, Ambassador Nora Finda Bundoo, with immediate effect.
The court issued the order on Thursday, March 28, 2024 after it granted a petition for a writ of prohibition filed by Gracious Ride, by and thru its Manager, Francis T. Blamo.
The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce has begun confiscating cars and other properties it perceived were ill-gotten through corruption and misappropriation of government funds. Members of the taskforce are seen in the streets, along with officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), carrying out searches and, without any court warrant, seizing cars of private citizens and insisting that they prove ownership of the cars before they can release them.
Observers have described the workings of the taskforce as clueless and without legal backing, and several individuals, especially former ranking officials of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, have suffered serious embarrassment from the taskforce.
The former Inspector General of Police, Patrick Sudue, former Assistant Minister of Mines, Emmanuel T. Swen, and several others, are victims of the process.
Explaining his ordeal, former Assistant Minister Swen said, “On Monday, March 25, 2024, the so called ‘Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Team’ stopped me at Fish Market, near Vamoma House, to prove that my vehicle is not a government property. After delaying me for almost an hour because someone wanted to, at all cost, find fault with my documents, I was released. Today, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the same team stopped me again on 5th Street, delayed me before releasing me after viewing my documents again after almost 30 minutes.
“This is total harassment, provocation and intimidation which is not called for. This has to stop as our rights to free movement cannot be continuously hindered or abused only because we are former government officials and CDCians. We are getting tired of the level of incompetence being displayed in the illegal manner these semi-illiterates believe they can retrieve government assets and property. Enough is enough! This has to STOP!”
Also, the taskforce recently illegally seized several vehicles commercially operated by Gracious Ride, a company owned by Ambassador Bundoo, claiming they were clandestinely bought with government funds, requesting that the company prove that the vehicles were bought with money legally earned.
However, the Manager of the company, Francis Blamo, made maximum use of the law by filing for a writ of prohibition at the Supreme Court, which was granted by the court.
The writ issued on the taskforce reads, “By directive of His Honor Yusif D. Kaba, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with His Honor on Monday, April 1, 2024 at the hour of 11:00 a.m., in connection with the above captioned case.
“Meanwhile, you are ordered to release of all vehicles seized and stay all seizure pending the outcome of the conference.”
The stay order issued on the taskforce has been described as a blow in the face of the Boakai administration, and a sign of ineptitude and lack of political direction.
Nimba County’s district #7 Representative, Musa Hassan Bility, has cautioned the taskforce to stop making mockery of a well-intentioned process and do the right thing.
Representative Bility said, “Don’t rush with asset recovery. First establish the lost assets and publish it. Ask those in possession to return it or face prosecution. And begin to search for the specific assets of government that are lost. Stop this nonsense of stopping peaceful citizens and asking them to establish their ownership of their vehicles. The government must first establish the assets lost before it can start the search for them. Come on fellas, you came with experience. Use it. Stop making a mockery of a well-intentioned process. And to those with government assets, please return it. it’s not yours. Shameless bunch. What a vicious circle of mess after mess!”
However, on the impounding of Col. Sudue’s vehicle,Information Minister, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, said the General Services Agency (GSA) is investigating Sudue’sclaim of ownership to the special utility vehicle. “The matter is now with the GSA. When the investigation is concluded and the determination made on the status of the vehicle, the action(s) thereof will be communicated to the public. But, if no wrong doing is determined, the car will be returned to the former Police director; and if it is also determined that the car is being possessed illegally, the appropriate action will be taken”, Minister Piah said.