Monrovia – Senator Nathaniel McGill of Margibi County on Wednesday honored an invitation from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to address allegations of payroll padding during his tenure at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
The LACC’s invitation followed a Tuesday announcement that it had launched an investigation into corruption claims, specifically focusing on payroll padding and irregular salary payments involving 728 names on a supplementary payroll list at the Ministry of State. The LACC stated that Senator McGill’s appearance was intended to provide essential information to aid the investigation.
Accompanied by his lead lawyer, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas, Senator McGill arrived at the LACC for a hearing that his legal team later described as “successful.” Cllr. Cephas, speaking to the press on behalf of Senator McGill after the hearing, emphasized his client’s respect for the law. “Senator McGill is a respecter of the law, and that is why he honored the LACC’s invitation today,” said Cllr. Cephas. He further asserted that the investigation was misdirected, stating, “The process has been misdirected at Senator McGill.”
Cllr. Cephas also portrayed Senator McGill as a staunch advocate against corruption, suggesting that his appearance before the LACC was a demonstration of his commitment to transparency. “Senator McGill is a strong fighter who believes in fighting corruption. That is why he came here today,” Cllr. Cephas added.
During the hearing, the LACC compound was filled with supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), who gathered in a show of solidarity with Senator McGill.
However, the appearance of both McGill and Cephas at the LACC drew criticism from some quarters. Minutes after the hearing, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen took to social media to express his displeasure. “A sanctioned lawyer (Syrenius Cephas) representing a sanctioned client (Nathaniel McGill) at LACC. Liberia is giving God a hard time,” Miamen wrote, highlighting the controversial nature of the proceedings.
The LACC has not yet disclosed the outcome of the hearing or any further actions that may result from its investigation into the alleged payroll padding at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs as Journalists weren’t allowed to cover the hearing.
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