By: The People News

Liberia is no stranger to corruption, but the latest scandal at the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) is a staggering example of how impunity continues to plague public institutions. At the center of this storm is NOCAL’s CEO, Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, who, without due diligence or adherence to the law, awarded a bogus $585,000 consultancy contract to a one-month-old company with no track record in geological services.

This is not mere incompetence—it is a calculated scheme to siphon public funds under the guise of consultancy.

A Dubious Deal from the Start

The company in question, West Africa Geo-Services, was registered as a sole proprietorship for management consultancy—not geology. Yet, within a month of its formation, it was handed more than half a million dollars to conduct a geological survey. Where was the vetting process? Where was the transparency? The truth is damning: there was none.

The contract violated multiple financial laws, including the requirement that any contract above $250,000 must be approved by the Ministers of Finance and Justice—an approval that was never sought. Legal experts warned Dennis not to proceed, but she ignored them. Evidence of this warning exists in leaked emails between NOCAL and its legal team.

The company was registered in August 2024. The contract was signed in October 2024—just one month later. It has no online presence, no known office, and no geological credentials. Payments were rushed—$300,000 was paid within three months despite a 24-month contract duration. The contract’s first deliverable—a supposed geological survey—was completed in just two months, an impossible feat without an environmental impact study.

This is a textbook case of corruption.

Where is the Accountability?

Public officials must be held accountable for abusing their offices, yet the silence from the government is deafening. President Joseph Boakai must act decisively. At the very least, Rustonlyn Dennis should be immediately suspended, investigated, and, if found guilty, prosecuted.

This is not her first ethical breach. Just recently, she was embroiled in a $75,000 vehicle scandal, where she converted $30,000 of public funds into a private car for her sanitation company. And now, new reports suggest she is building a massive clinic, raising further questions about the source of her sudden wealth.

Liberians cannot continue to watch their resources stolen with impunity. The media, civil society organizations, and anti-corruption bodies must take action. The country’s future depends on it.

This is more than a scandal; it is a test of our nation’s integrity. The people of Liberia deserve justice.