Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), through its Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, has announced plans to establish a dedicated Anti-Corruption Court to more effectively handle corruption cases under the Commission’s mandate.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, Cllr. Zoe emphasized the urgent need for a specialized court, noting that the current reliance on the Criminal Court “C” has become unsustainable due to overwhelming caseloads.
“We are currently working toward the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Court, which will allow us to handle indictments more swiftly,” said Cllr. Zoe. “Right now, the only court available to us is overburdened, which delays justice. We’ve already initiated discussions with donor partners and key stakeholders to support this effort.”
She outlined the challenges the Commission faces in prosecuting corruption cases, citing judicial bottlenecks and procedural delays.
“There are instances where a defendant files an appeal within six days of a verdict, and once that happens, we cannot proceed further because jurisdiction shifts to the Supreme Court,” she explained. “This creates a significant delay, even after months of investigation and successful prosecution at the lower court level.”
Cllr. Zoe referenced a recent case on May 5, in which the Criminal Court handed down a guilty verdict against former officials of the House of Representatives’ Plenary. However, she noted that the process was split, with some defendants found guilty while others’ verdicts were pending.
Delays in transferring cases to the Supreme Court have hindered progress in indicting and prosecuting key suspects, she said. Nevertheless, she assured the public that the LACC is working closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure timely indictments and prosecutions.
Between January and June 15, 2025, the LACC completed investigations involving several high-profile institutions and officials, including:
The Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Former officials of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Commission, Suspended officials of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, Current officials of the National Road Fund Authority, Former officials of the National Oil Company of Liberia
“These investigations underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to holding public officials accountable and restoring public trust,” Cllr. Zoe stated.
She also revealed ongoing investigations into high-profile institutions such as the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, the current head of the WASH Commission, the Central Bank of Liberia, the Ministry of State, the Executive Protection Service (EPS), and the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), among others.
The proposed Anti-Corruption Court, if established, is expected to fast-track corruption cases and serve as a major step forward in Liberia’s fight against corruption immediately.
