MONROVIA – The anticipated induction of suspended National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) CEO, Rustonlyn Suakoko Dennis, into the Bong County Bar Association took an unexpected turn when she failed to appear at the ceremony on February 10, 2025. Her absence, coinciding with an ongoing corruption investigation, has fueled speculation about the growing scrutiny surrounding her tenure at NOCAL.
Dennis, a law graduate from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, was set to be formally inducted alongside three other candidates during the opening of the February 2025 Term of Court. However, when her name was called, she was nowhere to be found, raising immediate questions about her no-show at a momentous occasion in her legal career. Her absence has now forced a delay, meaning she must wait until May 2025 for another opportunity to be admitted.
The timing of her disappearance from the event has only intensified public interest in the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (LACC) probe into her leadership at NOCAL. Investigators are looking into allegations of financial mismanagement, particularly the controversial purchase of a $75,000 luxury SUV during her brief stint as CEO. The LACC has made it clear that any obstruction or failure to cooperate with their inquiry could lead to legal consequences.
While she was absent from the courtroom, Dennis was not entirely out of sight. On the same day, she appeared before LACC investigators, accompanied by her legal team, including lead counsel Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi. The interrogation is part of an expanding inquiry into whether her administration engaged in financial irregularities, with investigators seeking to determine if the SUV’s purchase was marred by fraud or inflated costs.
The scandal took another twist when it was revealed that Dennis and her legal representatives did not comply with initial instructions regarding the vehicles tied to the investigation. Instead of returning them to NOCAL’s offices as directed, they diverted them to their law firm, raising suspicions of a possible attempt to withhold or tamper with evidence. The LACC has since seized the vehicles, treating them as crucial evidence in its ongoing probe.
The case has become a litmus test for Liberia’s anti-corruption fight. The Boakai administration has already ordered Dennis to return all NOCAL-related assets, signaling a firm stance on accountability. Public expectations remain high, with demands for a transparent and decisive resolution to the matter. Many are watching closely to see whether authorities will take action or if this case will fade into the long history of unresolved corruption scandals.
Dennis’s absence from the induction ceremony has now become a symbol of the broader controversy surrounding her. Legal experts believe the unfolding investigation could shape her future not just within NOCAL but also within the legal profession, where integrity remains paramount. If charges are brought against her, it could further complicate her aspirations in both corporate and legal spheres.
The LACC has vowed to proceed with its inquiry without interference, insisting that all findings will be made public as the case develops. With Liberia’s history of high-profile corruption cases often ending in political maneuvering, the outcome of this investigation will be seen as a test of the nation’s commitment to justice.
