The lingering questions over the faith of over $50 million that deposed and discredited former Liberian President, Charles Taylor remained a puzzle for the administration in Monrovia. Madam Ellen Sir-Leaf Johnson had promised when she was elected over a year ago to recover stolen funds, pursue fiscal discipline and combat in low and high places. Today, she faces an arduous task of bringing back Taylor’s stuck money in Nigeria. To do that is to disturb the uneasy calm which is the new order in Liberia and refusing to act amounts to failed promises.

Mr. Taylor left Liberia with several Millions of U.S Dollars when he was being eased out of office thinking that he would need the money to do a battle of come-back which he promised the people of Liberia “I would be back,” he boasted. Obviously one of the few former African leader that ever chose Nigeria, ancestral home of most Black people as his choice of life in exile. He miscalculated. Ditched by Nigeria, he had very few loyal friends to turn to while escaping eastward from Nigeria through an obscure border crossing into Cameroon, part of former colonial Nigeria; he was apprehended and handed over to the international community. He is today answering questions over war crimes against Sierra Leonean and against his own Liberian people.

In the wake of his hurried flight from Nigeria, he left behind over $50 Million in some of Nigeria’s banks chiefly; United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank and one other whose role has not been fully confirmed.

Pointblanknews gathered that the funds were taking to Nigeria through different channels including Taylor’s political cronies, business associates and close family members, many of whom still lives in Nigeria. It is difficult to trace the money because they were laundered into the various Banks through amorphous names and nebulous banking procedures. Like everything Nigerian, Central Bank officials would not even answer phone calls talk less of providing credible information on what may have happened to Taylor’s questionable millions.

Taylor made his money through gun running, dirty deals in blood diamonds and bear faced looting of the Liberian treasury. Several thousands of dollars were recovered from him when he was caught trying to escape from Nigeria.

Officials of Liberia’s Central Bank told pointblanknews that they are aware that Charles Taylor has some money belonging to the Liberian people stuck in Nigeria but they have no specific information as regards the actual amount or the given bank where the money was kept. The officials also do not want to steer the hornet’s nest by avoiding issues that would offend the sensibility of Taylor’s restive military supporters who still lurk in the shadows of Liberian affairs.

“We just came back from Abuja for a conference. We don’t have details of the money Taylor took to Nigeria but we are aware that some money belonging to Liberia was taken to Nigeria by Charles Taylor and we don’t have any information where the monies are kept,” the Liberian Central Bank official said on condition of anonymity.

He continued that “this issue is very sensitive and we are trying to be very careful with it because Taylor still has his loyalists who are waiting to cash on any opportunity to course troubles,” the official said.

Unfortunately, the current leadership in Liberia did not promise the Liberia people that it would be ineffective in recovering looted funds.

Several overtures made to get the reaction of the Liberian President were not complimented. Mr. Badio, spokesman for the Liberian President did not return calls and email sent to him by Pointblanknews. Yet Liberia badly needs every money it can recover. “We need all the money taking from Liberia wherever they are to continue building our economy and we would be very pleased if we can get all the details necessary to bring back all the money,” the official from the Central Bank of Liberia told Pointblanknews.

The Liberian economy is wriggling under heavy debt burden. It owes about $3.2 Billion. Presently, it gross annual income is about $200 Million. Would it pursue its stolen funds in Nigeria and other notorious western capitals? Wherein lies the future prosperity of Liberia???

However, Taylor begins trial at the International Criminal Court, ICC, Hague. His charges are: Acts of Terrorism, Murder, Violence to life, in particular murder, Rape, Sexual Slavery and Violence, Outrage upon personal dignity, Violence to life, in particular cruel treatment, other inhumane acts, use of child soldiers, Enslavement, and pillage.