By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
MONROVIA – As the trial begins for lawmakers accused in the alleged arson attack on the Liberian Capitol, Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County has issued a powerful open letter to President Joseph Boakai, urging him to order a full audit of the Legislature—warning that failure to do so would cast doubt on the impartiality of the ongoing trial.
In the strongly worded letter, Bility acknowledges the disturbing nature of the fire and supports a fair and transparent trial for the accused.
However, he warns that the financial damage caused by the alleged arson—estimated at $1 to $2 million—is dwarfed by what he describes as “millions, perhaps hundreds of millions” lost to misappropriation and abuse of legislative funds.
“Justice, Mr. President, must not be one-eyed,” Bility wrote. “If your administration seeks the truth about one crime, it must not ignore the other.”
Mr. Bility who also the Political Leader of the newly established Citizens Movement for Change party criticized the government’s alleged lack of urgency in addressing broader financial irregularities within the Legislature, even as it aggressively pursues arson charges against some of its members.
He disclosed that previous attempts to bring a motion for an audit of the House of Representatives had failed, leading him to appeal directly to the President, who under Liberian law holds the authority to request such an audit through the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
“Clearly, the Legislature will never muster the courage to audit itself. But you, Mr. President, are empowered under the law,” Bility said.
Citing the Revised Act that governs the GAC, Bility urged President Boakai to order a comprehensive audit of both the House and the Senate, specifically from 2011 to the present.
He emphasized that this action would demonstrate a true commitment to accountability and would restore public trust in the nation’s democratic institutions.
“This should be your legacy, Mr. President. Not just the prosecution of a few alleged arsonists, but the bold decision to clean the system from within,” the letter continued.
Bility warned that if the administration focuses solely on prosecuting lawmakers for the Capitol fire without addressing the broader issue of legislative corruption, it risks undermining the credibility of the justice system.
“If you prosecute lawmakers over a $2 million fire but turn a blind eye to the systemic theft of public funds within the Legislature, then you confirm the fears that this trial is political,” he wrote. “Then it will appear not as justice, but as vengeance.”
The letter ends with a passionate plea to the President to act in the national interest, invoking the needs of ordinary Liberians affected by the misuse of public resources.
“Do it for the homeless mother, the out-of-school child, the hungry elder… Audit the House. Audit the Legislature. History is watching.”
As the arson trial captures national headlines, Bility’s letter is likely to intensify public pressure on the Boakai administration to broaden its fight against corruption beyond the courtroom.
