MONROVIA — Two senior Liberian lawmakers, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, have been accused of allegedly orchestrating the dismissal of former Commerce Minister Magdalene Dagoseh, with a representative of her foundation claiming that the lawmakers offered US$80,000 to officials in the Office of the President to influence the decision.
By Obediah Johnson
The allegations were made Tuesday, October 13, by Cyrus Julius Jones, head of Media, Policy and Communication Management Professional at the Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh Foundation (MEDF).
Jones alleged that the lawmakers sought Dagoseh’s removal because of her growing political influence in Grand Bassa County and concerns that she could challenge Karnga-Lawrence in the 2029 general and presidential elections.
Both lawmakers have rejected the allegations. Karnga-Lawrence, through her media attaché, described the claims as unfounded, while Dillon responded dismissively when contacted by FrontPage Africa.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai dismissed Dagoseh as Minister of Commerce on Friday, September 11, replacing her with Stephen Yekeson Jr. An Executive Mansion release announcing the decision stated that Dagoseh had been relieved of her duties to be reassigned to another government position.
The circumstances surrounding her removal have since generated political controversy, with some of her supporters alleging that the decision was linked to her anticipated political ambitions in Grand Bassa County.
Alleged US$80,000 payment
In a statement issued in Monrovia, Jones alleged that Karnga-Lawrence initially provided US$50,000 to Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah and Presidential Legal Adviser Cllr. Bushuben M. Keita in an effort to influence Boakai to remove Dagoseh from the Commerce Ministry. The Executive Mansion did not respond up to the time of publication.
Jones further alleged that Dillon subsequently provided an additional amount exceeding US$30,000 to Stevquoah as part of the alleged effort.
Jones did not provide publicly verifiable documentary evidence in the statement to substantiate the alleged payments.
According to him, Dagoseh’s increasing visibility through her humanitarian activities and the work of her foundation had become a source of political concern for Karnga-Lawrence, who represents Grand Bassa County in the Senate.
Jones claimed that the former minister’s position in the government could have enhanced her capacity to organize and finance a potential senatorial campaign against the Senate Pro Tempore in 2029.
“The activities of the Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh Foundation had increased the former minister’s visibility, creating political anxiety ahead of the 2029 elections,” Jones said in the statement.
He further alleged that Karnga-Lawrence had repeatedly expressed concerns to President Boakai about the possibility of Dagoseh challenging her politically.
The allegations have not been independently verified by FrontPage Africa.
Jones alleges closed-door meeting
Jones also claimed that a closed-door meeting was arranged involving Karnga-Lawrence, Dillon, Stevquoah, Keita and two unidentified employees of the Ministry of State.
According to him, the meeting followed delays in the alleged initial arrangements to influence the President’s decision regarding Dagoseh’s removal.
The statement did not establish when the meeting allegedly took place or provide independent confirmation of its participants or the purported financial transactions.
Jones also challenged Karnga-Lawrence’s previous assertion that she had been consulted by Boakai before Dagoseh was appointed Commerce Minister.
He maintained that the Senate Pro Tempore did not know the circumstances surrounding Dagoseh’s appointment, arguing that the former minister’s longstanding service to the Unity Party and Liberia contributed to her selection by the President.
Jones further accused the two lawmakers of attempting to undermine Dagoseh’s political standing in Grand Bassa County because of her humanitarian activities.
Despite her removal from the Commerce Ministry, he said, Dagoseh remained committed to supporting vulnerable people and communities through the foundation.
“Madam Dagoseh remains committed to expanding humanitarian programs through the Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh Foundation,” he said.
He assured beneficiaries that the foundation’s programs would continue despite the controversy surrounding her departure from the government.
Dillon dismisses allegations
When contacted via WhatsApp for a response, Senator Dillon dismissed the allegations in a brief message.
“If this nonsense makes sense to you… go publish it,” Dillon responded.
He did not provide further details in the response.
Karnga-Lawrence denies involvement
Meanwhile, Rolay Glay, media attaché in the Office of Senate Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence, denied that his principal orchestrated or attempted to influence Dagoseh’s dismissal.
Glay argued that the President has the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss members of his administration, maintaining that the Senate Pro Tempore had no reason to interfere with an executive decision.
“I want to call on Cyrus Jones to go and do his civics very well to understand the functions of the three branches of government. The Pro Tempore is part of the Legislature; she will not interfere into the Executive,” Glay said.
He insisted that Karnga-Lawrence had neither orchestrated Dagoseh’s removal nor sought to influence Boakai to dismiss a presidential appointee.
According to Glay, the Senate Pro Tempore exercises her legislative responsibilities through the Senate, including participating in decisions on the confirmation of presidential nominees, rather than offering money to executive officials.
He also maintained that Karnga-Lawrence had played a significant role in working with her colleagues to secure Dagoseh’s confirmation when she was nominated to head the Commerce Ministry.
Glay questioned the plausibility of the alleged payment, asking why Karnga-Lawrence would offer money to influence a decision that constitutionally rests with the President.
“It makes not sense (for the Pro Temp to offer money). How can someone offer US$50,000? Are you saying the President took a bribe of US$50,000 because it is the president who makes the decision?” he said.
He did not provide evidence to independently establish the circumstances surrounding Dagoseh’s dismissal.
Glay further dismissed suggestions that the Senate Pro Tempore was concerned about Dagoseh’s possible political challenge in 2029, insisting that Karnga-Lawrence remained focused on serving the Liberian people.
Political implications
The allegations place the dismissal of the former Commerce Minister against the backdrop of emerging political calculations ahead of the 2029 elections, when Grand Bassa County voters will again elect their representatives to the Senate.
However, the claims that the lawmakers financed an effort to secure Dagoseh’s removal remain allegations, and no independent evidence presented in Jones’s statement establishes that the purported payments occurred or that they influenced Boakai’s decision.
The Executive Mansion’s earlier announcement said Dagoseh would be reassigned to another government position, but the statement cited in this account did not specify the position or explain the reasons for her removal.
The dispute also raises questions about the basis for the competing accounts of Dagoseh’s dismissal, particularly the allegations of financial inducement and the denials from the lawmakers’ representatives.
FrontPage Africa’s account of the controversy is based on Jones’s statement and responses from Dillon and Karnga-Lawrence’s media attaché. The allegations concerning payments to presidential officials have not been independently confirmed.
As of publication, the responses cited above did not include separate comments from Stevquoah or Keita addressing the specific allegations that they received money in connection with Dagoseh’s dismissal.
The former minister’s promised reassignment, as announced by the Executive Mansion, also remains a key outstanding issue in the controversy.