Monrovia – The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has introduced it would filed an attraction to the Supreme Court docket of Liberia, in search of a keep of enforcement following a Civil Regulation Court docket ruling ordering the social gathering to vacate its nationwide headquarters in Congo City.
By Willie Tokpah, [email protected]
On Monday, the Civil Regulation Court docket “A” on the Temple of Justice ordered the Congress for Democratic Change to instantly vacate its nationwide headquarters in Congo City, outdoors Monrovia, following its ruling in favor of the Barnards Household Property, the legally affirmed homeowners of the 4.23-acre property.
Choose George Smith handed down the choice, granting a movement for abstract judgment filed by the property’s authorized representatives and affirming there have been no real points of fabric truth in dispute to warrant a trial.
The ruling successfully enforces a 2016 Supreme Court docket Judgment that had earlier declared the land to be the rightful property of the Barnards Household, represented by Property Administrator Ebrima Varney Dempster.
“The proof earlier than the courtroom helps the legitimacy of the sale and buy settlement entered into between the CDC and the directors of the property,” Choose Smith acknowledged in open courtroom.
“Nevertheless, that transaction doesn’t override the Supreme Court docket’s remaining ruling affirming possession in favor of the Barnards Household.”
The choose emphasised that whereas the CDC had entered the premises primarily based on contractual preparations, the authorized title to the property stays with the property, and any continued occupation by the social gathering is illegal.
Simply three days prior, on Friday, August 1, the courtroom had denied a separate movement from CDC legal professionals in search of to compel the property to finish a sale of the property.
The courtroom maintained that no authorized grounds existed to drive the transaction, particularly in gentle of the Supreme Court docket’s earlier verdict.
Within the wake of the judgment, CDC’s authorized counsel introduced they intend to file an attraction to the Supreme Court docket, requesting a keep of enforcement and additional overview by Justice in Chambers Cieana Clinton-Johnson.
The social gathering argues that it entered into good-faith negotiations with the property and has made big investments within the property since buying possession.
The rule permits judgment with out trial when the info are undisputed and the regulation overwhelmingly favours one social gathering. However property’s homeowners say the ruling validates an almost decade-long authorized battle to reclaim household land, they usually count on full compliance with the courtroom’s order.
“Not Giving Up”
The CDC’s nationwide headquarters has lengthy served not simply as a venue for political rallies, however as sacred floor for its loyal supporters. Beneath the enduring sycamore timber, partisans have gathered to chant battle cries, sing social gathering songs, and cheer their leaders. Now, with the social gathering entangled in a protracted authorized battle, it’s doing every thing inside its energy to carry onto its headquarters. Following a ruling towards it by the Civil Regulation Court docket, the CDC has turned to the Supreme Court docket, in search of redress and a keep of enforcement.
The authorized dispute facilities on possession claims to the property that has for years served because the symbolic and operational nerve middle of the CDC.
“The CDC’s nationwide headquarters is not only a constructing. It’s a monument of our political wrestle,” stated a celebration official, talking on situation of anonymity. “We’ll exhaust all authorized means to make sure that our supporters should not displaced from an area that has develop into a second house.”
Beneath the Sycamore timber on the compound, social gathering loyalists have, for practically 20 years, rallied in massive numbers—particularly throughout election seasons—to specific solidarity, obtain political path, and interact in group mobilization.
Sources near the social gathering say the choice to hunt the Supreme Court docket’s intervention was swift, as social gathering legal professionals argue that the decrease courtroom failed to contemplate key items of proof. The CDC is requesting a keep order to delay the eviction till the Supreme Court docket can absolutely overview the case.
The authorized battle comes at a difficult time for the CDC, which remains to be reeling from its loss within the 2023 presidential elections and dealing to take care of its base forward of the 2029 President and Legislative elections. The potential eviction from its headquarters, many consider, may shake morale amongst supporters and disrupt social gathering cohesion.
Nonetheless, social gathering executives stay hopeful. “We consider justice will prevail,” stated one other senior official. “That is about greater than property—it’s about preserving the legacy and way forward for our motion.”
A Déjà Vu?
Because the Congress for Democratic Change battles to retain its nationwide headquarters, many observers are drawing comparisons to the ordeal confronted by the ruling Unity Get together following its 2017 election defeat.
In 2021, the Unity Get together was evicted from its nationwide headquarters in Congo City after failing to settle US$150,000 in hire owed to McClain Enterprises, the property’s proprietor. The social gathering’s authorized workforce overtly admitted the debt in courtroom, paving the best way for the eviction.
In distinction to the CDC, which is actively in search of negotiations and authorized redress to take care of its premises, the Unity Get together on the time struggled to fulfill its monetary obligations. The Civil Regulation Court docket decreased McClain Enterprises’ preliminary US$250,000 declare for damages to US$20,000 earlier than formally ordering the Unity Get together’s eviction.
With the CDC now interesting the same ruling and in search of a keep of enforcement, political analysts say historical past could also be repeating itself—although the outcomes, circumstances, and authorized methods differ.
