By By Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – Supporters of former Chief of Protocol Madam Nora Finda Bundoo have rejected the government’s corruption and money laundering allegations against her, describing the charges as a politically motivated attempt to target opposition figures.
Close ally Sekou Kalasco Damaro and other members of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) argue that the accusations are part of what they call a “witch-hunt” orchestrated by President Joseph Boakai’s administration to silence critics and weaken the opposition.
According to Bundoo’s supporters, her company — Anita Group of Companies — is a legally registered business with valid tax clearance for the 2024–2025 fiscal year. Damaro maintained that the company’s 2022 rice supply contract with the Ministry of Defense was fully authorized and notarized by the Ministries of Finance and Justice.
He questioned the government’s credibility for labeling the deal illegal while continuing to recognize and tax the company, arguing that such contradictions expose the political undertones of the case. “Madam Bundoo is not a rogue or a criminal,” Damaro asserted. “She is being punished for her political alignment.”
The CDC and other allies have publicly condemned the charges, describing them as “false and politically driven.” They accuse the administration of using anti-corruption rhetoric to distract from what they term the government’s own failures, including rising living costs and worsening economic conditions.
However, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) insists that the investigation and subsequent indictments were based strictly on evidence, not politics. Speaking at a recent press conference in Paynesville, Cllr. Edward Kla Martin, Chairman of AREPT, outlined detailed findings from months of inquiry into financial crimes and property acquisitions allegedly linked to Bundoo and others.
According to Martin, the investigation uncovered what he described as “a troubling pattern of abuse of power and illicit enrichment” involving the Anita Group of Companies and Gracious Ride Inc. He revealed that between 2020 and 2023, financial records showed transactions exceeding US$6.7 million and L$845 million, with several high-value properties and vehicles allegedly purchased during that period.
Among the assets listed were multiple real estate properties in Brewerville, Paynesville, and Margibi County, along with 42 vehicles reportedly bought through Gracious Ride Inc.
As a result, Bundoo and several associates — including Pamela Anita Jallah, Francis B. Blamo, and Saah F. Johnson Sr. — have been indicted for money laundering, economic sabotage, theft of property, misuse of public funds, criminal conspiracy, and violations of both the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) and the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA).
Cllr. Martin emphasized that the charges were filed in accordance with due process and that AREPT’s work is “not political but patriotic.” He said the task force follows evidence wherever it leads, regardless of political connections or status.
“This is about accountability,” Martin stated. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from our schools, hospitals, and roads. Liberia is changing course — those who misuse public resources will face justice.”
Despite the government’s assertions, Bundoo’s allies maintain that she is being unfairly targeted. They insist that the prosecution is less about justice and more about settling political scores in a deeply polarized environment.
As the case moves forward, it has reignited national debate over corruption, political accountability, and the perceived use of state power to intimidate opponents — setting the stage for one of Liberia’s most closely watched legal battles in recent years.
