ADNews_Monrovia: Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, a renowned Liberian scientist who just got nominated by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai as the head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), faces serious allegations of credibility issues and financial misconduct from Rev. Leeland Hodges, a Liberian businessman based in Thailand East Asia.
Rev. Hodges claims that Dr. Nyan misrepresented the nature of their proposed advocacy platform ( New Vision Liberia), which was initially presented as a non-political initiative aimed at helping Liberians to restore their dignity in late 2019.
According to Hodges, Dr. Nyan failure to stick to the purpose of the platform caused him tens of thousands of dollars in loss.
“Dr. Nyan was so ambiguous, that he removed several prominent people on the platform who had better dreams. He lied against the former Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier Sr.II saying, Cllr. Verdier didn’t permanently have a place to stay in the USA and can’t be trusted,” Hodges explained.
According to him, he lately realized that DR. Nyan was hustling to get funding to support a political party, the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) of Dr. Alaric K. Tokpa who is a close political ally of President Boakai who also allegedly traveled with Dr. Nyan to meet Hodges in Dubai.
Hodges, who had funded the launch of the platform and hosted a meeting in Dubai, reported that Dr. Nyan and other attendees misled him about the platform’s purpose. Following the meeting, Hodges alleged that Dr. Nyan requested $UD135,000 for the opening of the platform’s office in Liberia, but declined his request due to suspicions about the project’s true intentions.
Hodges expressed disappointment in Dr. Nyan, criticizing him for allegedly diverting funds from the original advocacy goal to a political agenda. He also claimed that Dr. Nyan had promised to reimburse him with over $ US25,000 spent on the Dubai forum but has failed to do so.
Going further, he has threatened to sue Dr. Nyan at the Liberian Court for misleading and making him to spend huge among of money under false pretenses.
“ I paid for their traveling, feeding, lodging with every other activity during their stay in Dubai. I bought them even the clothes they wore including their allowance throughout their stay in Dubai. I was paying $US 1,500 per hour for the conference room and we spent about ten hours. After all, He lied and posted on social media that he was invited by a certain scientist group, based in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Hodges accused Dr. Nyan of avoiding communication and misrepresenting the situation, which prompted him to seek media attention.
When contacted by a group of journalists on Monday, July 29, 2024, for inquiring Dr. Nyan denied the allegations but failed to provide further clarification.
Despite Dr. Nyan’s denial, a video in Afric Daily Newspaper possession shows Dr. Nyan referencing Rev. Hodges at the beginning of his presentation during their meeting in Dubai in late 2019, contradicting his claim of unfamiliarity with Hodges.
Martin K.N Kollie, another delegate who attended the forum confirmed, “Hey Joseph, please contact Dr. Nyan. I was only invited by Dr. Nyan and Dr. Alaric Togba”
The unfolding dispute highlights significant concerns about transparency and financial integrity within advocacy and political initiatives involving prominent figures.
Investigation continues.
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