[Liberia] Lofa University officials cleared of payroll padding

The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has cleared two senior officials of the Lofa County University of allegations linking them to payroll padding and illegal disbursements totalling over US$337,000 (L$13 million), Front Page Africa reports.

In separate clearance certificates issued on October 23, 2025, and signed by LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, the Commission stated that a thorough investigation had found “no probable cause to pursue legal or criminal proceedings” against the two officials.

The investigation reportedly followed claims that, between August 2023 and January 2025, some officials at Lofa County University, in collusion with staff from the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, had inflated the university’s payroll and made unauthorised withdrawals from its operational accounts.

It was alleged that during the 2022–2023 fiscal year, disbursements amounting to US$337,398 (L$13,329,440) were made to individuals listed as contractors and part-time workers without records of services rendered.

According to the LACC’s findings, however, no evidence linked the university officials to the alleged acts. The Commission said the case had been closed with no charges filed.

The LACC reportedly noted that the clearances were limited to the scope of the specific inquiry conducted, and the case could be reopened if new evidence emerged. Both certificates, bearing Case Reference No. 00668, reaffirmed that neither of the two officials was culpable in the payroll padding or misappropriation claims.

The clearances follow a months-long LACC investigation into corruption allegations that had earlier led to the indefinite suspension of one of the officials by the university’s Board of Trustees.

Source: Front Page Africa

The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has cleared two senior officials of the Lofa County University of allegations linking them to payroll padding and illegal disbursements totalling over US$337,000 (L$13 million), Front Page Africa reports.

In separate clearance certificates issued on October 23, 2025, and signed by LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, the Commission stated that a thorough investigation had found “no probable cause to pursue legal or criminal proceedings” against the two officials.

The investigation reportedly followed claims that, between August 2023 and January 2025, some officials at Lofa County University, in collusion with staff from the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, had inflated the university’s payroll and made unauthorised withdrawals from its operational accounts.

It was alleged that during the 2022–2023 fiscal year, disbursements amounting to US$337,398 (L$13,329,440) were made to individuals listed as contractors and part-time workers without records of services rendered.

According to the LACC’s findings, however, no evidence linked the university officials to the alleged acts. The Commission said the case had been closed with no charges filed.

The LACC reportedly noted that the clearances were limited to the scope of the specific inquiry conducted, and the case could be reopened if new evidence emerged. Both certificates, bearing Case Reference No. 00668, reaffirmed that neither of the two officials was culpable in the payroll padding or misappropriation claims.

The clearances follow a months-long LACC investigation into corruption allegations that had earlier led to the indefinite suspension of one of the officials by the university’s Board of Trustees.

Source: Front Page Africa