MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, has responded to allegations linking her to a questionable vehicle purchase amounting to $75,000, asserting that the claims are misleading.
In a statement posted on her official Facebook page today, Dennis refuted suggestions that her official vehicle cost $75,000. She emphasized that as head of NOCAL, her position requires confidentiality and trust, necessitating a separate official vehicle for herself, apart from those used by her drivers, security personnel, and staff.
“The CEO of NOCAL’s official car is not $75K,” Dennis wrote. “A CEO will not ride in one car with her drivers, security, and staffers. The CEO has a utility vehicle for errands, yes. The CEO may use her utility vehicle if need arises and use her official vehicle for official matters.”
Her comments came in response to reports circulating in both mainstream and social media, raising concerns about financial mismanagement at NOCAL regarding the purchase of a vehicle. According to documents reviewed by the media, Dennis authorized the acquisition of a 2024 MG RX8 seven-seater SUV from Cactus Motors for $75,000. However, official sales records indicate that the actual price of the vehicle, including duties and discounts, was only $45,000, leaving a $30,000 discrepancy that has sparked public scrutiny.
Dennis, in her social media post, maintained that she does not sign checks alone, stating that all financial transactions pass through the Vice President for Finance and undergo scrutiny before approval.
“The CEO states strongly she doesn’t sign cheques alone but rather with a Vice President of Finance, and cheques pass through scrutiny,” she noted.
Despite her denial of wrongdoing, the allegations have intensified calls for greater transparency in the management of public resources at NOCAL. The controversy has also fueled debate on accountability within the Boakai administration, with critics demanding a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s prcurement.
