A Letter from Robert Neal
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
April 19, 2022
Cllr. Musa Dean
Minister/Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Republic of Liberia April 14, 2022
My mother, Eunice Dogba Sackor, 92, died in her daughter’s home in Chicken Soup Factory, Gardnersville, on Tuesday, April 4th. Her funeral will take place on April 23rd, 2022. I’ll also be joining the family in Monrovia for the funeral.In light of the foregoing, I would like to officially notify the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice of my arrival in the country and to request security protection from the Ministry.
It is sad that a Liberian citizen who should be free to return to his homeland must seek additional security protection while in his own country. However, such a situation, such a time.You may recall that in late 2019, as deputy director-general for audit at the Internal Audit Agency, I flagged a series of corruption at the IAA, where I served as deputy director-general for audit, as well as at some government ministries and agencies. I eventually became the accused’s target after sounding the alarm. At one time, when I went to eat at a nearby restaurant, my vehicle was being filmed on Broad Street by unknown persons riding in a black jeep. On another occasion, six men on two speeding motorcycles pursued my vehicle. My house was also the target of an arson attack on another occasion. These situations were reported to the police inspector, who and I discussed them. He even gave me his email address and asked that I communicate with him in writing. Regrettably, no action was taken after I did as he had requested.
When some of the accused realized that illegally locking my office, freezing my salary, and transferring my staff against my will would not deter me from raising the corruption issues that I was raising, they resorted to requesting a writ of arrest from the solicitor general, Cllr. Syrenious Cephus. Cllr. Cephus, who had tried unsuccessfully to have me come to his private office on a Saturday, later sent police officers to my house to arrest me. But I had already left the country before that.
The arrest warrant issued against me at the time was an outright mockery of our democracy and freedom of speech, as well as a violation of Section 9.3 of the Internal Auditing Act, which grants internal auditors’ immunity from prosecution, reprimand, or penalty for opinions, recommendations, and other acts performed in the course of their official duties.
The solicitor general’s falsified arrest warrant against me was an attempt not only to silence auditors of integrity in the performance of their duties, but also to undermine the fight against corruption and offer an incentive for corruption in Liberia. And I recognized it was inspired and orchestrated by some of the defendants, my colleagues at the Internal Audit Agency, and NPP Chairman and Maryland County Senator James Biney.
I hope that the foregoing disclosure has provided you with a thorough understanding of why I am requesting security protection and requesting that the Government of Liberia be notified of my brief return to the country.
According to my itinerary, I will enter the country on April 20th. I will be staying at my home in the Kebbah Community, Barnersville township. My specific movement will be between my home and my sister’s house, where my mother passed away. On April 23rd, I will spend the day at the New Jerusalem A. G. Church, which is directly across the street from the NTA office, where the interment service will be held, and then proceed to the burial site. I’ll return home after the post burial meal. A week later, I’ll travel to Maryland County, my home county, specifically Pleebo and Wetchoken, to see other family and friends. Following that, I will return to Monrovia, bringing my stay in Liberia to a close.If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. For now, the best ways to contact me is either by phone on +1 240 487 8648 or via email at robertf.neal1@gmail.com.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Filmore Neal II
Cc:
Office of the President, Republic of Liberia
Office of the Minister of State
US Ambassador to Liberia
EU Mission in Liberia
Office of ECOWAS Special Representative to Liberia
Liberia Human Rights Commission
Office of the Inspector General,
Liberia National Police
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