LIBERIA: Ex-President Weah’s Religious Advisor Jailed For ‘Theft’

The Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court has jailed former President George Manneh Weah’s Religious Advisor and Senior Pastor at the Forkay Klon Family Fellowship Church – Rev. Emmanuel Nimely for ‘theft’.

On Friday, June 7, 2024 when he appeared at the City Court for prosecution after being investigated by the Liberia National Police(LNP) for allegedly duping 90 persons under the pretense of facilitating their travels to Australia, Magistrate L. Ben Barco informed former President Weah’s religious advisor to secure or file a valid criminal appearance bond due to his charges, which fall under second degree felony.

Interestingly, Rev. Nimely being charged with the commission of crime, theft of property in the sum of $87,300 and issuing deceptive writings is bailable for temporary release while the trial is ongoing but failed to secure a bond.

Due to his failure, Magistrate Barco instructed the sheriff to place Rev. Nimely behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison commonly known as South Beach.

Rev. Nimely, who served as Religious Advisor to former President Weah from 2016 to 2018, was complained by several individuals of allegedly defrauding them under an organization called Global Spiritual Cleansing Peace and Reconciliation Organization.

As a result of that, the police arrested him within the ABC Community near Baptist Seminary on June 2, 2024 for investigation.

Interestingly, since the arrest of Rev. Nimely, former Liberian President Weah, Council of Church or Forkay Klon Family Fellowship Church has not issued a statement in favor or against him.

One of the victims identified as Momo Fortune Jr. reported that he encountered defendant Nimely on August 6, 2023.

During this interaction, defendant Nimely introduced himself as the senior pastor at the Forkay Klon Church which is owned by former President Weah and the founder of the Global Spiritual Cleansing Peace and Reconciliation Organization.

Just within their interaction, defendant Nimely deceitfully informed him (Fortune) about a program called the “Healing Broken Hearts of Australia Reconciliation Conference and Crusade” and requested to pay US$3,500 of which he did. The deal was to provide an Australian Visa for the conference.

Victim Fortune added that only to realize that defendant Nimely defrauded him along with 90 persons, adding that the defendant collected US$970 each between August 6, 2023 to December 2023.

During Police investigation, defendant Nimely admitted to the allegations of collecting $970 per person as visa processing fees for the Australian Conference.

He narrated that it was a plan tricks to collect said amount mentioned above to get Australian Visa and could not refund those individuals monies. Upon his action, victims contacted the police to intervene.

Police established that the Global Spiritual Cleansing Peace & Reconciliation Organization established by Nimely is a religious organization purportedly involved in conferences, prayer meetings, teachings about peace and reconciliation.

The investigation also revealed that defendant Nimely organization engaged in fraudulent activities, specifically organizing fake foreign conferences. With the vision or objective to defraud people, defendant Nimely orchestrated a scam visa program for a five-day conference scheduled in Australia from December 5 to 9, 2023.

Moreover, he created a false flyer with the images of the Liberian, Kenyan, and Australian Flags, bearing the theme “Healing the Broken Hearts of Australian Reconciliation Conference & Crusade.

Meanwhile, Rev. Nimely is incarcerated at the South Beach as inmates pending court trial or temporary criminal appearance bond.