The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has cleared Senator Nathaniel McGill of allegations that he orchestrated a $2.6 million payroll fraud while serving as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, announcing there was no probable cause to pursue criminal charges after nearly two years of investigation.
In a statement issued in Monrovia, the LACC said its probe found “no probable cause to pursue legal criminal proceedings” against McGill and that “no charges have been filed, and the case has been closed.”
The Commission said the clearance applies only to the specific scope of the inquiry and does not amount to a broader endorsement of McGill’s conduct.
The investigation was launched after a General Auditing Commission (GAC) audit alleged that more than 700 ghost names had been inserted into a supplementary payroll at the Ministry of State between 2018 and 2023.
The GAC report identified 739 staff members on the supplementary payroll and estimated the alleged scheme cost the government about US$2.62 million annually.
The audit also highlighted systemic weaknesses in payroll management at the ministry, finding no evidence of policies governing the hiring or management of those on the supplementary payroll.
It said the ministry did not budget or report the salaries as a distinct line item in the national budget, and that funds were reallocated from other budget categories — including consultancy fees — without approval from the Civil Service Agency or the Deputy Minister of Budget.
McGill, now the senator for Margibi County, consistently denied any wrongdoing and cooperated with the inquiry.
The LACC’s decision came after months of scrutiny and public debate over the handling of supplementary payrolls.
In late 2024, former Auditor General John Morlu criticized the probe as “misplaced” and a “waste of time,” arguing that supplementary payrolls have long been used across multiple ministries — including Education, Internal Affairs, State and Health — and do not necessarily indicate corruption.
Morlu noted that some supplementary payrolls were financed by donors such as USAID and cautioned that focusing on the issue could divert resources from more serious matters.
While the LACC closed the case against McGill, the audit’s broader findings about payroll controls and budgetary procedures may prompt further administrative or policy reviews.
