ACC Commissioner Addresses NRA Boss Chief Swaray’s Dismissal by President Bio Amid Fraud Allegations

Francis Ben Kaifala, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), has denied recent social media claims that President Julius Maada Bio sacked Chief Ibrahim Brima Swaray from his position as Commissioner of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), due to Fraud allegations.

ACC Commissioner, Kaifala, said that the current investigation into a potential fraud case involving the NRA has discovered no evidence linking Chief Swaray to wrongdoing. According to the ACC Commissioner, while the inquiry is still ongoing, it has mostly focused on persons below in the institutional structure.

ACC Commissioner explained that the fraud in question involves multiple actors, including bankers, finance officers, and others in the NRA. Some of these individuals have already been arrested, and the investigation is focused on understanding the full extent of their involvement. He stated that the case is still under active investigation, with special attention being given to the role of EcoBank, the primary bank under scrutiny.

“There have been arrests of individuals involved in the case, including bankers and finance officers,” Kaifala said. “However, there is no indication that Chief Ibrahim Brima Swaray is involved in the fraudulent activities. The investigation has shown that those responsible for the theft are primarily at lower levels within the institution.”

Kaifala further stated that while such fraud instances frequently involve individuals with access to financial systems, it is not uncommon for those higher up the chain, such as departmental heads or commissioners, to become people of interest during investigations.

The ACC Commissioner further stated that the missing cash had been unaccounted for, over a year, and that internal NRA efforts, as well as coordination with other institutions such as the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Finance, led to the ACC’s participation.

The Commissioner’s statements come in response to viral claims made on social media by Councilor Jusu Michael Kapu, who claimed that President Bio fired Chief Swaray for fraud. However, Kaifala clarified that such allegations were inaccurate and deceptive.

The ACC Commissioner reassured that investigations into the incident will continue, and more updates will be provided when new information becomes available.