A stunning claim from inside Sierra Leone’s Parliament has brought fresh scrutiny to the ousting of Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce, reigniting controversy over the integrity of the vote that removed her from office.
In a rare moment of candour, a Member of Parliament alleged that lawmakers received $30,000 in bribes from the Bio administration to ensure they voted in favour of Taylor-Pearce’s removal—a deeply disturbing glimpse into the transactional nature of governance. The lawmaker’s confession, delivered in Parliament, raised immediate alarm about undue influence and political maneuvers corrupting the democratic process .
Taylor-Pearce, who gained international acclaim for her real-time audits of Ebola relief funds and her firm stance on financial transparency, was controversially suspended in November 2021 by President Julius Maada Bio. The suspension came just as her team was preparing a crucial audit report that reportedly implicated members of the presidency and inner circle in financial mismanagement.
Parliament subsequently moved to remove her, a decision that many critics—already suspicious of executive interference—now implicate even further, citing the newly revealed bribe allegation as confirmation of deep-rooted corruption behind the scenes  .
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has previously expressed concern over corruption within Parliament, noting that MPs were perceived by the public as among the most corrupt individuals in public office. The Commission launched investigations based on public admissions by MPs, although no outcomes from those inquiries have been publicly disclosed .
Now, the audacious assertion of a $30,000 bribe not only calls into question the legitimacy of Taylor-Pearce’s ouster—it also undermines public confidence in the legislative body and the broader justice system.
Civil society advocates and transparency watchdogs are calling for an immediate, independent investigation into both the bribery claim and the broader circumstances surrounding Taylor-Pearce’s removal. “If lawmakers were indeed bought off to unseat a respected Auditor-General, we have crossed into territory that threatens the very soul of our democracy,” one rights activist warned.
As national conversations turn once more toward accountability and integrity, many Sierra Leoneans are left to wonder: how deep do these political machinations go—especially when they undermine institutions meant to check power?
By Joe Turay
