LAGOS SEPTEMBER 21ST (NEWSRANGERS)-Local bank notes worth about $60 million, printed abroad and brought into Liberia in two huge consignments, have “vanished”.
The consignments were brought in between November 2017 and August 2018.
According to BBC, there were reports that the money left the port in Monrovia, and was accompanied by security agents in March.
It was assumed to be headed to the country’s central bank before it disappeared.
A consignment that also came through the international airport was again said to be unaccounted for.
Liberia’s Ministry of Justice has called for calm on the development, noting there is a panel of security officers investigating the incident.
Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, told the state radio President George Weah was “unhappy” about the development, as he was not informed of the situation until now.
No arrests have been made but the minister expressed the administration’s determination to get to the root of the matter.
Meanwhile, the government has issued a ban to 15 officials, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s son, against their leaving the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by Eugene Nagbe, and posted on the country’s Ministry of Information Facebook page, dated September 18.
Describing them as “persons of interest”, the 15 of them are “required to assist with the ongoing investigation into circumstances surrounding the importation of Liberian Dollar banknotes into Liberia between November 2017 and August 2018”.
The statement continued: “The Government says it takes the ongoing investigation seriously because it has National Security Implications.
Authorities at all points of entry/exit including land borders, air and sea ports have been directed to take due cognizance of the circular.”
The statement also noted that former Central Bank of Liberia Governor Milton Weeks would visit the headquarters of the Liberia National Police on Wednesday “to continue his assistance to the investigation”.