—- Demands Independent Investigation
IPNEWS: The investigation into the 2020 deaths of Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) auditors Gifty Lama, Albert Peters, and George F. Fanbuntu remains a subject of intense political debate.
The “final” findings released by the former CDC administration in November 2020 were widely disputed and have recently faced formal calls for reopening under the current Boakai administration.
CDC Administration’s Final Findings (November 2020)
The Ministry of Justice under former President George Weah attributed the deaths to non-criminal causes:
The CDC government final report on the mysterious deaths of Gifty Lama and Albert Peters, concluded that the official autopsy report concluded the pair died from carbon monoxide poisoning exacerbated by gasoline fumes, likely due to a defect in the vehicle where they were found on Broad Street.
As for George F. Fanbuntu, His death was attributed to a road traffic accident involving a cerebral contusion after his vehicle collided with a house.
Sadly for Emmanuel Barten Nyeswua, the former Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, who died in the same eight-day period, was found to have died from a massive hemorrhage consistent with a fall from a height.
Following the transition to the Boakai administration, there has been a resurgence of demands for new, impartial investigations:
On January 13, 2026, the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) officially challenged the government to launch an independent probe, calling the original 2020 conclusions “unresolved” and damaging to public trust.
The 2020 findings were met with skepticism by families and the public, particularly as all four auditors were reportedly conducting audits of government accounts involving allegations of misappropriated funds at the time of their deaths.
Recent reports indicate that the Liberia National Police have summoned several high-profile officials from the previous administration, including former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh, as persons of interest regarding the death of Emmanuel Nyeswua, which is often linked to the LRA cases.
In a statement issued by the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) demands a Full, Independent and Impartial Investigation into the unexplained deaths of Liberia Revenue Authority auditors Gifty Lama, Albert Peters, and George F. Fanbuntu, who died under mysterious circumstances during the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration.
According to the opposition Party, auditors were performing critical national duties at the time of their deaths, and the lack of credible conclusions has left their cases unresolved, raising serious concerns about accountability, institutional integrity, and the safety of public servants in Liberia.
The LPP maintains that the immediate reopening of these cases is essential to restoring public trust in the justice system and public financial management institutions. Any renewed investigation must be professionally conducted, free from political interference, and capable of uncovering the full truth surrounding the deaths. The failure to conclusively resolve these cases during the CDC administration continues to undermine public confidence and deepen perceptions of impunity.
LPP Noted , Reopening the auditors’ cases is not about political vendetta, but about justice, truth, and national healing. The Government of Liberia has a moral and constitutional obligation to demonstrate that every Liberian life matters and that no administration is beyond scrutiny. By acting decisively now, the government can restore confidence, strengthen the rule of law, and reaffirm its commitment to transparency and accountability.
