House denies Speaker shares US$100,000

The Press and Public Affairs Bureau of the House of Representatives has described as misleading, a NewDawn’s publication that at least 27 members of the House of Representatives received US$4,000 each to thwart ongoing campaign by a number of representatives to remove indicted Speaker Alex Tyler.

In a release issued Thursday, 16 June the bureau says the “House is reminding the media that lack of news headlines for commercial purpose is no incentive to create lies at the detriment of other people’s character.”

It says the House has filed a formal complaint before the Press Union of Liberia, challenging the NewDawn’s publication. Inside sources at the House of Representatives hinted this paper Tuesday, 14 June that about 27 Lawmakers received US$4,000 each to reduce the current political tension amidst calls for Speaker Tyler to recuse himself from office in the wake of his indictment along with others for corruption.

But Tyler, backed by some of his colleagues in the lower House has resisted on grounds that the calls lack legal basis.  The source further informed this paper that Speaker Tyler promised to provide the remaining US$6,000 of the amount following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2016/17 National Budget.

Tyler is currently facing bribery trial following a Global Witness’ report that over $950,000 in bribes and other suspicious payments were made to top Liberian officials by Britain-based Sable Mining Company and its Liberian lawyer, Varney Sherman. According to Global Witness, the money was offered by the company to secure one of Liberia’s remaining mining assets, the Wologizi iron ore concession in northern Liberia.
The Speaker is alleged to have received US$75,000 as ‘consulting fees’ out of the US$950,000.