—As Assets Recovery Designate Weah’s Wife ‘City of Hope’ Assets of Interest
IPNEWS: It is often said that political rewards are not in heaven but here on earth which might manifest either in positive or negative forms.
In June 2023, former President George Weah dismissed Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin from his position as the Executive Director of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
However, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, vowed to resist his dismissal by then-President George Weah in 2023 and sought legal redress, though the Supreme Court ultimately ruled against him.
President Weah dismissed Cllr. Martin after the Legislature amended the LACC Act, effectively dissolving his tenured position and allowing for a new appointment process.
Martin condemned the decision as illegal, unconstitutional, and a demonstration of disregard for the fight against corruption. He maintained that his tenure ran until July 14, 2026, and that the new Act should not apply to him retroactively.
He filed a lawsuit against the government, arguing that his right to due process was violated and that the amended Act was unconstitutional.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled against Cllr. Martin, stating that no public official, except for those whose positions are expressly protected by the Constitution, has a vested right to a public office, thus upholding the government’s action.
Following the change in administration, Cllr. Martin has since been appointed by President Joseph Boakai as the chairman of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), where he is actively investigating cases of alleged theft of public funds and vowing that no one will escape justice.
Last month, the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), indicted and arrested several former Weah government officials on charges including economic sabotage, money laundering, and theft of public funds.
The indictments stem from two major investigations: the “Gracious Ride” money laundering case and the “MDMC contract scandal” involving Saudi relief funds.
Now, the Liberian government’s Assets Recovery Team (ART) has initiated court action by obtaining a subpoena to investigate the funding and ownership of the City o Hope project, a facility established by former First Lady Clar Marie Weah’s foundation.
The Criminal Court “A” in Monrovia on Wednesday, November 26, issued a writ of subpoena duces tecum, ordering the management of the Building Material Center (BMC), the project’s contractor, to provide detailed financial and contractual records. The hearing was scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The ART is operating under the mandate to ensure public resources are not converted to private use. The team argues that all donations for the City of Hope project were received while Mrs. Weah was the sitting First Lady, making them public property.
The Clar Hope Foundation has rejected the allegations, labeling them as “politically motivated”. In a statement, the foundation asserted that it has operated with “absolute integrity, professionalism, and strict adherence to the law”. Mrs. Weah has stated that funding for the project came from her husband and other sources and not from the national budget.
The legal proceedings are part of a broader anti-corruption drive by President Joseph Boakai’s administration. The situation remains a developing story as the court proceedings advance and the investigation continues.
