Paynesville – The Paynesville Magisterial Court has summoned Deputy Director General for Operations at the National Transit Authority (NTA), Noah Zawu Gibson, over allegations that he interfered in a legally mandated eviction and incited community resistance in an ongoing land dispute.
By Willie Tokpah
The court summons, signed by Stipendiary Magistrate William G. Saygah, comes after the Civil Law Court reaffirmed a prior judgment in favor of Joseph W. Bussie, authorizing the recovery of a disputed property in Jacob Town, Paynesville. The ruling followed summary proceedings pursued by Bussie through his attorney-in-fact, Henry Garmondeh.
Gibson faces accusations of menacing, disorderly conduct, and criminal coercion under Sections 14.25, 17.3, and 14.27 of the New Penal Code of Liberia. Court documents allege that Gibson, alongside others, unlawfully entered the disputed premises and accused Bussie and his legal team of being “criminal land dealers,” both on the property and publicly via ELBC Radio’s Nightline Liberia program.
These public accusations reportedly caused fear, reputational harm, and disruptions to the court’s enforcement efforts.
The situation intensified after the Civil Law Court, presided over by Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar, denied a motion seeking relief from judgment filed by defendants Martha Johnson, Daniel Sackie, Aminata Bangura, and others—citing failure to appeal within the required legal timeframe.
In response, the Magisterial Court issued a Writ of Possession, directing law enforcement to remove the occupants from the land. Due to rising tensions and reported threats against court officers, police assistance was requested to ensure the peaceful implementation of the court’s order.
Gibson, as a senior government official, is accused of leveraging his influence to embolden the occupants and obstruct the court’s decision, further complicating the enforcement process.
He is expected to appear before the Paynesville Magisterial Court on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. to respond to the charges.
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