Bong County Senator Prince Moye Denies Allegations of Budget Manipulation and Corruption.
Bong County Senator Prince Moye has strongly denied allegations linking him to the manipulation of the national budget for personal gain. In a press briefing held in Monrovia on Thursday, January 2, Moye stated unequivocally that he would resign from the Senate if credible evidence is presented proving his involvement in distributing funds to public officials during current or past budget periods.
Senator Moye’s remarks were in response to a report published by the Daily Observer on December 31. The report alleged that the recent death of Anwar Futloo, General Manager of the Boulevard Palace Hotel, might be connected to top government officials who, according to sources, were implicated in corruption.
Sources claimed that before his death, Futloo had possession of a leaked video purportedly showing several government officials, including Moye, distributing large sums of U.S. dollars to lawmakers and senior ministers. The alleged footage, reportedly captured by CCTV in Room 1026 of the Boulevard Palace Hotel, has fueled public speculation about high-level corruption.
Moye dismissed the allegations as baseless propaganda orchestrated by political opponents aiming to tarnish his reputation due to his significant role in the Unity Party-led government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Moye criticized the Daily Observer for not seeking his side of the story, calling the newspaper’s approach unethical. He accused unnamed propagandists linked to the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of spreading falsehoods on social media to undermine his credibility.
Denial of Meetings in Room 1026:
Moye categorically denied holding any meetings in Room 1026 at the Boulevard Palace Hotel to discuss or manipulate the national budget. “I have never participated in any meeting of that magnitude at the Boulevard Palace. All my budget hearings as Chairman of the Senate’s Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning Committee are conducted at the Capitol Building,” he said.
He added, “I have conference rooms at my disposal within the Capitol. There is no need to hold budget discussions in a hotel.”
The infamous Room 1026 first came under public scrutiny when former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa alleged systemic corruption in the legislature. Koffa claimed that a group of lawmakers and collaborators manipulated budget figures in Room 1026 to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary Liberians.
Koffa detailed how veteran lawmakers from the Ways and Means Committee would meet in Room 1026 to adjust budget allocations for ministries and agencies, often seeking kickbacks in return.
Moye Challenges Accusers:
Senator Moye challenged his accusers to release any video evidence implicating him. “I will resign the next day if anyone can produce a video showing me distributing money to ministers in Room 1026 or anywhere else,” he declared.
He also dismissed claims that he had a close relationship with the late Futloo, emphasizing that he rarely visits hotels for social or professional reasons.
Commitment to Transparency:
Moye vowed that practices of budget manipulation and off-budget expenditures, allegedly prevalent under the former CDC-led government of President George Weah, would not occur under his watch. He highlighted specific instances, such as the allocation of $1.5 million for the office of the Deputy Speaker, which later ballooned to $4 million in expenditures, as examples of past mismanagement that he would not tolerate.
Under the current administration of President Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung, Moye pledged to ensure budget transparency and accountability. “What belongs to the Vice President will remain for the Vice President. We will not allow any budgetary adjustments to happen in secret hotel meetings,” he said.
Call for Ethical Journalism:
Senator Moye criticized the media for disseminating unverified reports, urging media institutions to uphold journalistic ethics. “It is regrettable that a reputable paper like the Daily Observer would publish a propaganda story without contacting me or the other individuals mentioned,” he said.
He attributed the negative reports to political opponents seeking to tarnish his image as his political influence grows. “In Liberia, when you are progressing in politics, you become the target of bad news. This is just another attempt to derail my work and reputation,” he concluded.
Moye reiterated his commitment to serving the Liberian people with integrity and called on the media to prioritize truth and fairness in their reporting.
