CDC Headquarters dispute takes another twist

The disputed property has been the CDC’s headquarters for the last 20 years.

Monrovia, September 19, 2024/ Amidst pressure on the Boakai administration to enforce a Supreme Court order to evict former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) from its headquarters following the court’s ruling on the disputed property, the legal battle has taken another twist.

A new group has emerged, claiming to be the legitimate owners of the disputed property. They are putting up a notice warning the public not to do business with the Bernards or Martha Stubblefield Bernard, in whose favor the Supreme Court had ruled.

The notice was signed by three men: Mr. Augustine B. Kiazulo, Morris A. Kaizoe and Allen Lincoln, all claiming to be Administrators of the Interstate of the Late Boimah Jallah et al., claim that the disputed land belongs to the heirs and administrators of the late Jallah.

The trio are yet to publish or present any legal documents publicly to substantiate their claims.

However, what is known is that on September 12, 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the eviction of the former ruling party over ownership and unpaid sums despite ongoing negotiations by the CDC to purchase the said property.

The case involved a dispute over the ownership of the property between the administrators of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard’s estate, led by Mr. Ebrima V. Dempster, and the Bernard family.

On Monday, Mr. Dempster called on the Boakai administration to enforce the Supreme Court order.

“The Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard is therefore appealing to the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice and the Liberian National Police to provide police protection to the Sheriff of the Civil Law Court for the eviction of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in keeping with the mandate of the Supreme Court of Liberia,” the release stated.

In his releases, Mr. Dempster lamented that the Liberia National Police (LNP) has failed to provide the necessary police support to enforce the repossession of the property.

He indicated that the Civil Law Court wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman, on August 19 requesting police assistance, but the Inspector General has yet to comply with the request.

The dispute over the property in Congo Town, Monrovia, began in August 2023 when the CDC was notified of an impending eviction. The court issued an eviction order on September 12, 2024, following a protracted legal battle over ownership and unpaid sums, despite ongoing negotiations by the CDC to purchase the property.

The estate, represented by multiple family members, has been engaged in a longstanding legal battle with the CDC. The conflict culminated in a writ of possession in favor of the Bernard family, with Judge Golda Elliot of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court reaffirming the order on March 7, 2024. The writ demanded that if the CDC failed to pay US$54,000 and LRD$13,000 in outstanding sums, its assets and party belongings would be seized and auctioned.

The CDC has since responded to the family, dismissing the existence of a valid eviction notice.

CDC Acting Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo argued that the party had been paying rent to Mr. Dempster and was, therefore, a lawful tenant.

Attorney Kowo explained that the CDC had filed a “Bill of Information” with the Civil Law Court, seeking a hearing to resolve the matter. Kowo criticized the delays in court proceedings, claiming they violate the party’s constitutional right to due process.