MONROVIA – The Forestry Improvement Authority (FDA) and a logging firm have requested the Industrial Court docket on the Temple of Justice to dismiss a US$5 million lawsuit towards them for alleged harm to three,200 acres of land in Grand Bassa County.
By Emmanuel Sherman, with The DayLight
Khalil Haider, a Paynesville resident, claims that the FDA licensed C&C Company to reap logs on the plot with out his consent. He additional alleges that the FDA honored a letter that solid Haider’s signature, ignoring his warning and approving C&C’s operations.
The land in query lies between the St. John River and Mt. Findley within the Vambo Township of Grand Bassa’s Compound Quantity Two.
The defendants challenged Haider’s declare and questioned the process via which he filed the lawsuit.
In its response, the FDA questioned the validity of Haider’s deed. The regulator argued that it was unlikely a deed was signed in 1958, 111 years after Liberia gained independence in 1847.
“Haider is a fabricator who would go to any size to tarnish the repute of people managing the forestry sector, as evidenced by his assertions, that are all lies,” learn the regulator’s petition.
The FDA added that Haider ought to have filed the lawsuit in his mom’s identify as an alternative of his personal identify. It denies receiving any communication from Haider, warning it about an alleged pretend letter.
C&C’s solely argument was about Haider submitting the lawsuit in his identify. It cited the Decedents Property Legislation, a 1956 act that requires youngsters to symbolize their late dad and mom.
It’s the prayer of [C&C Corporation] to dismiss [Haider’s] movement as a result of it lacks authorized foundation,” the corporate’s petition learn.
Haider’s counterargument
Haider insists on his US$5 million damages in his response to the FDA and C&C.
Haider counterargued that the FDA questioning of his deed’s validity was “unintelligible and lacked authorized coherence.
“If counsel argument is {that a} deed executed in 1958 is invalid merely as a result of Liberia gained its independence in 1847, such cause is unfounded,” learn Haider’s response. “By that logic, all subsequent land transactions can be inherently fraudulent, which is patently absurd.”
On his lawsuit process, Haider mentioned that Decedents Property Legislation C&C referenced empowered him to sue in his identify. He mentioned his petition acknowledged his late mom as proprietor of the property. Haider’s response referenced a 1983 case and two 2001 instances.
“In view of the above, I pray respectfully that the Honorable Court docket deny Defendant’s request for dismissal,” mentioned Haider, “as mentioned request lacks authorized advantage.”
This story was a Group of Forest and Environmental Journalists of Liberia (CoFEJ). It first appeared in The DayLight and has been printed right here as a part of an editorial collaboration.
