Liberia National Student Union Siphoned Over U.S.$50,000

The administration of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) appears to be saddled with corruption with some officials accusing Benedict Williams, LINSU's Secretary General and Richmond Anderson, LINSU's Financial Secretary of failing to account for US$50,000.

Both Mr. Williams and Anderson, a lawmaker in Montserrado County, are yet to comment on the issue despite several attempts by this paper to get their clarification.

"For the past six months, the Secretary General of LINSU, Benedict Williams and Richmond Anderson Jr. LINSU's Financial Secretary are yet to provide financial report for the US$50,000 received from the government.

"They cannot also account for the US$19,000 given to them for the construction of a student center sponsored by UNMIL which is leaving UNMIL with no alternative but to blacklist LINSU in all United Nation agencies," said Danise Love Dennis, LINSU's Deputy Secretary General for Press and Propaganda.

At a press conference held at the LINSU head office on McDonald Street last week, the officials told journalists that LINSU's account has been "completely emptied" by these two officials who they said "are at-large."

Dennis told the conference that the situation has brought the operations of the institution to a standstill, noting that they are finding it difficult to access their balance funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sport as a result of the organization's failure to submit its financial report.

She emphasized that as a result of Varney A. Jersey, LINSU President's continuous pressure on the two officials to account for the missing funds, they have both deserted the LINSU head office and embarked on a "character assassination campaign against the administration."

"As I speak to you, Cadre Varney A. Jersey has put them on the run and he is now working closely with the anti-corruption commission to prosecute all of those engage in the looting of the student coffer while our various sub offices in the counties are lying in filth.

"For the past three months, the Secretary General and Financial secretary have not been to the office," she disclosed.

They also dismissed claims that the LINSU's President is not a current student, saying that he is a senior student at the Stella Maris Polytechnic.