MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has opened an investigation into financial irregularities at the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), summoning its Vice President for Finance, Emmanuel Azango, for questioning. The probe follows allegations of inflated procurement costs and suspicious contract awards within the company.
A letter from the LACC, dated February 14, 2025, invited Azango to appear before investigators on February 17 to provide information on alleged misconduct. The commission is examining claims that NOCAL purchased an MG 2024 RX8 SUV for $75,000, while its actual market price is said to be $45,000. Investigators believe the extra $30,000 was funneled into another vehicle, which was registered under a private company linked to suspended NOCAL CEO Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis.
The case has also drawn attention to a $585,000 consultancy contract awarded to West Africa Geo-Services (WAGS). Reports indicate that $300,000 of that sum was paid out in breach of Liberia’s procurement and public finance laws. Dennis, who was already facing scrutiny over her leadership, is accused of approving the transactions at the center of the investigation.
As the inquiry unfolds, NOCAL has strongly rejected accusations of financial malpractice regarding vehicles for its vice presidents. In a statement released on February 16, Acting Public Affairs Officer Bilton B. Leesalah dismissed claims that the company purchased vehicles for executives at an inflated cost of $55,000 each. According to NOCAL, its vice presidents received KIA Seltos vehicles at a price of $32,500 per unit, which it maintains is well within the government’s approved spending limits.
The company also refuted suggestions that LACC investigators had implicated its vice presidents in wrongdoing. It described the allegations as misleading and insisted that no formal findings had been issued against any executive.
