On Monday the 18th of November 2019, Justice Biobele has started investigating assets of former Ministers and Deputy Ministers that served the last administration of the former president Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. Key among others was the former Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi.
In his Chief examination, the state council Mr. Robin O Mason asked the state witness PW1 Mr. Lansana Andrew Musa Detective Inspector of Sierra Leone Police attached to the Commission of Inquiry Intelligent and Information Unit reads out the details of the assets of the former Minister of Lands Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi.
Responding to the questions from the state council Mr. Robin O Mason about offices occupied by the former Minister of Lands, Detective Inspector of SLP Mr. Lansana Musa says the former Minister Madam Diana held two offices under the last administration of the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. She held the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and also the Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment and she serves these two Ministries from the period of 2013 to 2018. She serves as a Minister of Local Government and Rural Development from 2013 to 2015 and also serves as a Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment from 2015 to 2018.
According to Detective Inspector of SLP Mr. Lansana Andrew Musa said they investigated the assets of the former Minister of Lands Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi from 2007 to 2018 and continues that they investigated the salaries details which were supplied to them by the Accountant General’s Office from 2007 to April 2018 and the details of a vehicle were supplied to them by the SLRSA and also a financial report of her transactions activities were produced by Financial Intelligent Unit (FIU). The values of her vehicles were all produced by the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
The conveyances of properties were also produced by the Ministry of Lands and they were able to locate the properties of the former Minister Madam Diana Konomanyi. Through the Administrator General, they were also able to get the conveyances of her properties and also the assets declaration form was produced by the ACC.
However, the former Minister of Lands Madam Diana Konomanyi did not declare any assets upon assumptions of office from November 2007 to April 2018 to the ACC and she was listed as one of the defaulters of the ACC. There were two conveyances presented by Detective Inspector of SLP Mr. Lansana Musa one of the properties is located at Peninsula Road Adonkia Village Freetown it was from Dalton Frederic Shear as a Vendor and the purchaser was Diana Konomanyi dated the 26th day of September 2016, and the next one was from Torkeh Village Peninsula Road a state Land sold to Alie Kabba and Diana Konomanyi dated the 23rd day of December 2013.
Salaries and Bank account details were also produced and tendered as an exhibit to the Commission. The salaries of the former Minister of Lands, Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi from the period of November 2007 to April 2018 and the grand total amount of salaries earned by the former Minister of Lands Madam Diana Konomanyi was 1,067, 718,638.00 Leones (One Billion and Sixty Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred Thirty Eight Leones) for over a period of Sixty Four Months (64). Details of Bank account of the former Minister of Lands Madam Diana Konomanyi were produced and tendered by Detective Inspector of SLP Mr. Lansana Musa, two Bank Account owns by the former Minister of Lands at the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) a Dollar and a Leones Account. The Dollar Account was established between the period of 5th September 2012 to the 25th of January 2018 and total amount deposited was $200,76000,230.200 cent (Two Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand Two and Thirty Point Two Hundred Cent and also the Leones Account was a total sum of 6,754,380,036 (Six Billion Seven Hundred Fifty-Four million Three Eighty Thousand and Thirty-Six Leones)
The Commission continues its hearing tomorrow the 19th day of November 2019.
Albert Momoh
As we publicise the findings of the COI let all public officials be guarded that they will be subjected to a COI in the years to come because precedence has been set. If ever APC comes to power it will be done at a scale that goes beyond what is been done right now .
I expect that the current office holders learn from these proceedings and if possible seek professional accounting advise on their finances as they get along. For those who are heading ministries , departments or agencies pay attention to your internal control environment be a respecter of procedures as stipulated in the PFM acts.
Act always on audit recommendations and ensure you respond to queries and document the process. Keep back up if possible in the cloud of any approval you make for the release of funds. Avoid conflict of interests in contracting processes and ensure that all such processes are consultative and you don’t shout down instructions that flout laid down rules.
Beware of subordinates who are always asking you to put informal discussions in writing they are covering their back. Ensure you keep to your annual declaration schedule with the ACC and seek professional advice when completing those forms. Don’t just sign off documentation make time to read.
And don’t get caught up in the ambiance of your post by trying to live by the public’s expectation of your post they will certainly be your prosecutors and witnesses tomorrow.
©Cozy D Tormentor.
