MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The mysterious death of Emmanuel Barten Nyeswa, the former Director General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), has resurfaced as Joseph Boakai takes steps to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Nyeswa died during President George Weah’s administration, with initial reports stating that he fell from a balcony. However, his girlfriend, Musu Lela Kerkula, who was present at the home during the incident, disputes this account, suggesting instead that he was murdered. Following the incident, Lela fled to the United States, where she has been vocal about seeking justice for her late boyfriend.
In a revealing interview with Spoon Radio on November 7, 2023, Lela detailed the alarming circumstances surrounding Nyeswa’s death, alleging that senior government officials were involved in what she believes to be a murder plot. Lela claims that these officials targeted Nyenswa due to his steadfastness in pursuing two major audits: the Consolidated Account of the Liberian Government and the COVID-19 funds.
Lela recounted her harrowing experience on the night of the incident, stating she was awakened by friends who informed her that Barten who was lying on the same bed with her was found unconscious in the courtyard. Confounded by the situation, she questioned how he could have been moved from the bedroom without her awareness, fueling her suspicions about foul play.
During the interview, Lela named several high-ranking officials in the Weah government whom she suspects are co-conspirators in Nyeswa’s death. She asserted that these individuals allegedly orchestrated his demise due to his refusal to compromise on critical audit reports. Lela also revealed that police had intimidated her during their investigation into Nyenswa’s death, threatening to charge her as an accomplice.
Before his death, Nyeswa had confided in Lela about his fears regarding threats to his life. Although he believed his life was in danger, he did not suspect those who were ultimately named as potential threats, as they were reportedly close acquaintances.
Lela’s account included a surprising revelation that many of the individuals she named were present at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center when Nyenswa was rushed there. She specifically described an incident involving an audit report he had handed to Nathaniel McGill, a senior government official, who allegedly delayed its receipt.
She further recounted a troubling experience at the Calabash entertainment center, where she felt uneasy about the gathering of officials. As they left, they encountered a suspicious black vehicle blocking their path, intensifying her apprehensions about the evening’s events.
Moreover, Lela disclosed that a relative of one of the alleged co-conspirators took possession of Nyeswa’s personal belongings, including two phones and a laptop that may have contained sensitive audit information. She expressed her shock that this individual attempted to persuade her to falsely claim that Nyenswa fell from the terrace, further deepening her conviction that he was murdered.
Nearly two years after Nyeswa’s death, official investigations reported no foul play, yet Lela insists that he was murdered rather than having fallen as claimed. The balcony from which he allegedly fell is described as being only 9-12 feet high—a distance she argues is too minimal for a fall to be fatal.
As the investigation into Nyenswa’s death continues, Lela’s revelations raise pressing questions about the integrity of the initial findings and the potential involvement of powerful figures in the Weah administration. The names of the alleged conspirators have been withheld pending further contact for their responses.
Lela Kerkula’s determination to seek justice for Emmanuel Barten Nyeswa remains steadfast, and as the story unfolds, the public awaits answers to the troubling questions surrounding his untimely death.
