–As LACC Remains Silent On Extradition Proceedings
As the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission actively pursues its alleged US$3.6 million fraud case involving Abdullah L. Kamara, the suspended Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the integrity institution has remained tight-lipped as to whether it intends to pursue extradition requests against Edwina T. Zackpah, one of the indictees in the matter.
Zackpah and her successor, Kamara (formerly CEO of TAMMA Corporation), were jointly indicted on July 10 for allegedly colluding and conspiring to defraud the government of US$3.5 million. They were charged with multiple economic and financial crimes, including economic sabotage, theft of property, misuse of public funds, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, misapplication of entrusted property, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy and criminal solicitation.
However, since the indictment was issued, the LACC has not provided any updates on how it intends to bring Zackpah, who sources say is currently in the US, to face charges. Legal experts note that, given Zackpah’s suspected presence in the United States, formal extradition proceedings offer the only viable path to justice, yet the commission has not publicly outlined any such efforts.
“The LACC has been very vocal about pursuing corruption cases domestically, but we haven’t heard any clear strategy for bringing Madam Zackpah back to face these serious charges,” legal experts argued. “This silence is troubling, especially when we know she’s outside the country. The Liberian people deserve to know what concrete steps are being taken to ensure that all those accused of corruption face the full weight of the law.”
Experts noted that the LACC’s silence on Zackpah while reindicting Kamara after Criminal Court “C” had initially dismissed his indictment on procedural grounds raised transparency questions about the anti-graft institution.
Judge Joe Barkon of Criminal Court “C” initially upheld Kamara’s lawyer’s motion for dismissal, which argued that the former LTA Chair was “wrongly and illegally labeled as TAMMA Corporation’s CEO” in the alleged indictment, although he had relinquished that position over a year ago.
Barkon also questioned why the LACC did not indict the new chief executive officer of TAMMA Corporation and other corporate officers when they knew that Kamara had resigned from the corporation and that these allegations were made against TAMMA Corporation.
“Kamara should not have been named as a corporate officer to represent TAMMA Corporation in the indictment when the corporation, as a distinct entity, had a new chief executive officer and other corporate officers to represent it in the accusations against it,” Barkon noted.
He continued, “The act of the LACC to have designated Kamara in the indictment as chief executive officer is improper, unlawful, untenable, and contrary to the provisions of the Association Law.”
However, amidst all the misdirected legal and political actions, Abdullah Kamara has been cooperative and making himself available for court trials. As a prominent figure, Kamara could elect to appoint his legal team to do all the representations in court, but yet he decided to avail himself.
On Tuesday, Kamara was rearrested and incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison, but was released, again, after issuing a valid bond.
Consequently, Zackpah and others who have not yet appeared in court, are roaming freely, with the LACC doing absolutely nothing to bring them to justice.
Pundits are describing the move as a “witch-hunt where there is no witch”, and called on the LACC to redirect its energy to individuals with probable causes.
