Liberian journalist Philibert Browne and Montserrado County District#10 Rep. Yekeh Kolubah will face separate Legislative inquiries following their utterances relating to ongoing alleged missing 15.5 billion Liberian Dollars.
Journalist Browne is due to face the House of Representatives on Monday, 19 November, following his comment on local broadcaster OK FM on Wednesday, 14 November that more than 15 lawmakers were bribed to authorize the printing of 15.5 billion Liberian Dollars.
And Rep. Kolubah is due to face investigation at the House for alleging that one of the missing money containers is at the house of President George Manneh Weah.
The calls for the investigations of the two figures were contained in two communications addressed to the House by Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel Kogar on Thursday, 15 November.
While the lawmakers may be acting swiftly against Browne and Kolubah to protect their image and that of the president in the 15.5 billion allegation, similar action is yet to be taken by the Legislature against Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, a former rebel leader who threatens to massively resist establishment of war crimes court and go after its supporters and the chairman of the ruling CDC, Mr. Mulbah Morlu who said he saw two pick up loads of money leaving the Central Bank of Liberia compound to an unknown destination.
Prince Johnson in the 1990s controlled the dreaded breakaway rebel faction Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), and many here including some of his kinsmen in the Legislature that he threatens to go after for their support for war crimes court, see his threats as treasonable and want him to face state security investigation.
However, the House on Thursday summoned Mr. Browne, the Managing Editor of local daily Hot Pepper Newspaper to provide some evidence regarding his claim that some lawmakers allegedly took bribes for the printing of 15.5 billion Liberian Dollars.
In a communication requesting the House to invite journalist Browne, Rep. Kogar complains that the journalist on Wednesday revealed that there are pieces of evidence to show that more 15 lawmakers allegedly received bribes on two separation occasions.
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According to Kogar’s communication, Mr. Browne alleged that the bribes were offered the lawmakers at the T-Five Academy School in Paynesville and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) car parked respectively.
“He furthered that said bribe was intended to give authorization for the printing of the Five Billion Liberian Dollars (5 Billion) and additional 10.5 Billion Liberian dollars banknotes (currency),” the communication continues.
Regarding Rep. Kolubah’s comments, Rep. Kogar writes the House, requesting that he craves Plenary’s indulgence to subject the Montserrado District #10 Representative to investigation by the Rules, Order and Administration Committee of the House of Representatives.
Rep. Kogar says Rep. Kolubah’s revelation that one of the missing money containers is at the house of President Weah warrants an impeachment if it is found to be true.He says Rep. Kolubah needs to provide all evidence in his possession to the investigation.
Further, Rep. Kogar says the request to investigate Rep. Kolubah is in connection to statement made by the lawmaker on OK FM on 14 November, telling journalist Browne to go to the Plenary and he (Kolubah) will protect the journalist.
Kogar is offended by Kolubah’s remark that nobody will do anything to journalist Browne, arguing that Kolubah spoke as if the Plenary is in the habit of intimidating or harassing citizens or public officials appearing before it.
By Bridgett Milton–Edited by Winston W. Parley
