By By: Alphanso G. Kalama,
Email: alphansokalama@gmail.com
Temple of Justice, Monrovia — In a decisive legal move, the Civil Law Court of Montserrado County has ordered the eviction of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) from its headquarters in Congo Town. The ruling, issued on March 7, 2024, comes in response to a protracted legal battle over unpaid rent amounting to US$50,000.
The eviction order, issued by Judge Golda A. Bonah Elliott, mandates that the CDC vacate the property and transfer control to Ebrima Varney Dempster, the new administrator representing the intestate estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard.
The property, located at the intersection of Tubman Boulevard and the road leading to Bernard’s Beach, spans 4.23 acres.
The CDC’s occupancy of the property, which began decades ago under a lease agreement, has been marred by disputes.
The matter reached the Supreme Court in 2015, which initially ordered the party to settle its rent arrears. The issue further complicated with competing claims over the property’s ownership between the Bernard family estates and other parties.
Jangar Kowo, Chairman of the CDC and former Comptroller General at the Finance Ministry, expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, asserting that the eviction appears politically motivated. Kowo emphasized that the CDC has consistently paid rent to the Bernard family, questioning why the party is named in the writ for possession.
The court’s order highlights its commitment to resolving complex property disputes and enforcing legal judgments. The sheriff has been instructed to execute the eviction and provide official returns on the writ’s service.
This ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing property dispute involving the CDC and the Bernard family estates, underscoring the judiciary’s role in upholding property laws and ensuring fair resolution of disputes.
