In her testimony at the Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice, witness Geraldine J. George explained that President Weah said he was going to make sure the payment is made through budgetary allocation, beginning 2018. Further to her testimony, General George said, “President Weah gave the assurance that his government was willing to pay back the money at a meeting with the committee she headed that was responsible to investigate circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of the money from their account at Ecobank-Liberia. Samukai had repeatedly admitted to the payment transaction, arguing that said payment was made with the approval of then Commander-In-Chief of the AFL, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. However, the current government is now claiming that the transaction was far from the purpose of the account, named and styled: “Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Pension Account” at Ecobank-Liberia. Despite Samukai’s explanation and documentary evidence established between the former President Sirleaf and President Weah, that from the 2018 budget the government would refund the money, the prosecution is persistent in prosecuting the former Defense Minister and now requesting the AFL Generals to testify in the matter.

Source: Daily Observer February 25, 2020 02:34 UTC