By By: The People News Investigative Desk
Monrovia— Civil society actors have pushed back strongly against claims made by a group identifying themselves as “aggrieved victims” in the ongoing Saye Town land dispute, describing the documents recently paraded in public as fake, misleading, and intended to blackmail and undermine the legitimate owner of the property.
According to civil society representatives who reviewed the documents circulated on radio and television, the so-called deeds are riddled with glaring irregularities that raise serious doubts about their authenticity. One of the most troubling concerns, they say, is the signature placement, which experts argue does not correspond with lawful conveyancing standards and appears to be forged.
Even more questionable, civil society sources note, is the fact that on the same purported deed, a brother and sister served as witnesses, with only their first names written. Critics argue that this alone exposes the document as fraudulent.
“If this was a legitimate land transaction, why were two close family members used as witnesses?” a civil society advocate asked. “Was there no independent or neutral person available? That single act strips the document of credibility and exposes it for what it is—a fake.”
The most troubling aspect identified is seeing the very deed with handwriting over initially written lines.
Claims Contradicted by Court Records
Civil society groups have also rejected assertions that the matter was never in court or that residents were not notified. **Court records directly contradict those claims, showing that the land dispute has been before the courts since 1984, with public notices issued over the years.
“These occupants cannot now claim ignorance,” one legal observer said. “The records show longstanding litigation, yet people took advantage of the situation, occupied the land illegally, and are now attempting to rewrite history.”
Allegations of Deception and Double Standards
The narrative being advanced by the Saye Town occupants—that they are innocent landowners blindsided by eviction—has been described as deliberately deceptive. Civil society actors insist the documents being circulated are part of a coordinated effort to mislead the public, apply emotional pressure, and discredit the lawful owner.
They further argue that if any land was sold decades ago as claimed, the burden lies on those presenting the documents to explain why basic legal safeguards were ignored, including independent witnesses and verifiable signatures.
