Information gathered by this paper indicates that the embattled Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Ellen Corkrum has left the country for the United States, amidst calls for investigation.
Information received by this paper further revealed that Ms. Corkrum left the country to fulfill her monthly military obligation in the US over the weekend.
Corkrum was reportedly dismissed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for allegedly attempting to defraud the state of US250,000, a claim she (Corkrum) has since denied and insisted that she was still in-charge at the RIA.
But conversations to which this paper was privy revealed that Ms. Corkrum was kicked out of her official residence hours after the deadline given her to leave the resident had expired.
She was said to be contacting family and friends to intercede on her behalf after RIA authorities allegedly cut off power and water supplies from the house. She had also complained of RIA officials breaching security protocols at the assigned residence.
A former classmate of hers who was spending time at the house was said to have been forced out by the RIA officials. To this, the friend was said to have reportedly called the American Embassy to report the death threats.
Corkrum told friends and family members how two officials of the RIA names withheld broke into her home and took away some personal items, without her permission. She claimed that her money, jewellery, and other personal effects and valuables were also taken away. These events were said to have happened days after Corkrum insisted that she was still in-charge at the RIA.
For a week now, there have been claims and counter-claims about financial misappropriations at the RIA involving Corkrum on one hand and RIA Board of Directors headed by Mr. Musa Bility on the other.
Corkrum was said to have been dismissed after she was accused of awarding a contract exceeding US$250, 000 through single-sourcing without receiving authorization from the Board.
Her letter of dismissal also noted that not only did she unilaterally award the amount above, but that the company to which the contract was awarded, the Diaspora Consulting did not exist- something Ms. Corkrum denied.
"The fact is I met the head of this company, Mr. Momar Dieng, through Amara Konneh, the Minister of Finance; the company has been in existence since 2009, and I have only been at LAA for a few months. Musa Bility suggested that LAA used this man and his company; for Bility to say that I paid them $250,000, and that I attempted to defraud the good people of Liberia is simply not true- it is a deception to the people and an attack on my integrity and character," Managing Director Corkrum rejected the claims during her last Wednesday's news conference in Monrovia.
Another institution caught up in the web is Melvin Johnson and Associates, which the dismissal letter said has no ties with the airport or the Government of Liberia.
"He also said I received a plane ticket; I was hired by Bility and the entity to provide legal consultation that's what I do for living. I have a copy of the check he signed to pay me for my services; this is my passport, signed and stamped. I did not violate the law as claimed by him in the letter," Melvin Johnson also told a live news conference last Wednesday in Monrovia.
One reason, in the RIA Managing Director's counter-claims, for Musa Bility's action is the financial regulations instituted during her short tenure, which may have allegedly annoyed him (Bility).
"During my short tenure at the airport, I discovered numerous loopholes through which I believe Musa Bility and others have been stealing; the VIP inventory ordering, the gasoline ordering and issuing process, vendors purchase orders etc. in fact, monies recouped from these loopholes, I pushed to pay the poorest of our workers and citizens in Liberia. This has upset Musa and his cohorts.
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Amara Konnoh name is mentioned in this Financial SCANDEL again, I think there is something rotten about this man. An amout of $450,000 went missing under his watch at the Grand Bassa Collectory. Amara Konnoh name was mentioned again in the Carbon Harvesting scandel at the Forestry Authority.
The situation becomes worse when he is paired with Musa Bility. There is always scandel whenever Musa Bility is involved with something.
There is one foreign tribe in Liberia that will do anything to defraud the Liberian People. They do not care about the country's development and do not care about the indigenous people of the country. Even though some of them try to claim the Booday section of Voinjama District (re-naming it Bonni)in Lofa county,they are not from one of the historical tribes in Liberia, they have no tribal homeland in Liberia to worry about, and they are also not from one of the Americo Liberian Settlements. Their grand parents and parents generally came to Liberia from Guinea and Mali in the 1940's, the 1950's and the 1960's, chasing after U.S. dollars. The tradition of dolllar chasing (Legal or illegal) is a part of their DNA. They have no loyalty to Liberia, or any political subdivision within Libria. All they want to do is suck as much money as possible from the Liberian Government and the Liberian People.
BROTHER SAYGBE. YES!!! "BRAVO TO YOU!! You've said everthing "RIGHT" about these people; you "NAILED" it right on their "GREEDY & SELFISH HEADS" I need NOT to say much; we as true Biological Liberians "MUST" wake-up; these people tried to take over our Country, (Liberia) during our civil conflict, but FAILED by God's grace; they're NOW doing all they can to open-up as many so-called "Islamic Schools" in our country;want their own Holidays observed etc.let's remember, as we welcome freedon of religion, let's don't forget Liberia was built or established on "CHRISTIAN" principles; YES again!! They're only in Liberia chasing after (US Dallars); FYI, there is some "SOLID TRUTH" to Ms Ellen Corkrum's story; she discovered their "Stealing Cliks" and they've done everything to get her out. LIBERIANS: let's keep our eyes on (Musa Bility & Amara Konneh) they're always pairing-up for something. especially, (Musa Bility); he's always rushing to where "MONEY" is fastly generated FYI, a person is NOT guilty until proven guilty!!! therefore, this is a "RUSH TO JUDGEMENT" on Ms Corkrum.
This too is Liberia - When the entire World is fully waken up to the reality of history in Liberia, some the likes of Sneh, Jackson & Duward are still wallowing in the pool of ignorance and divisively. May Almighty Allah safe them from their ignorance! To liking Hon. Musa and Konneh to: “corruption" in this Country is gimmick. Just a reminder, due to your ignorance and inability to comprehend history, the so call Liberia was founded on "Xtian principles" you failed in your widest pool of ignorance that Christianity is a guest of Islam in Liberia, had it not been the hospitality of Islamic Leaders, xtianity won't have existed in this Country -the likes of King SaoBoso Kamara and my brilliant grade grandparent, Ibrahim Sesay were benevolent to provide settlement to the so called settlers. In other words, the people who introduced civilization to your grandparents when Mandingoes were hundred years ahead and people you bow to. The likes of you guys are idle and nothing but evil thinkers and not in the interest of Liberia. For someone at this age fermenting tribal / religious fuse after many years of bitter encounters is beyond any sound minded person(s) - better see psychiatrics. Put on your thinking cap (if you have one) and listen to this: The so called Congo /Americo - Liberia that you bow down to are 70% Mandingo origins - spreading in the Americas, taken away during the trans-Sahara slave trades. Check your tribe and ask yourselves, what contribution have you made to the growth and development of origin of the Country you now called "biological" Liberian? Be warned, if you have nothing to rebuild your damaged village but to ferment trouble by accusing prominent citizens, you better shut up and let history pass by! And until you wake up from your slumber, be aware that we are watching you and your misdeed and will be held accountable for your divisive utterances!
All well-meaning Liberians need to rise above tribalism and ethnic divisionism. The viruses of corruption, nepotism, and greed that threaten our growth and development as a nation are clearly not limited to a unique tribal group or individuals. They are disease-causing agents that need our collective treatment void of petty sentiments of tribalism and confusion.
Bro Saygbe and bro Snehbi so truely said, i can not be more in aggreement with all you people just said. Especially on the fact of how these foolish people want to come and islamize our country which was build and founded on christian principles by a majority of about 75%, only to be dominated and control by the minority 20-25% muslims. We have to protect that country, becuae these people aim is to gradually islamnize any country they go into, like they almost succeeded doing in mali.