Civil Law Court Rules against Ex-Chess President

MONROVIA – The Civil Law Court has ruled in favor of the Liberia Chess Federation in the case involving the federation and the dethroned president, Winston Ireland.

Report by Christopher C. Walker 00231777898224 / 00231886723075 [email protected]

Ireland last year took the Liberia Chess Federation to court, accusing it and the then interim leadership of removing him from the presidency illegally.

He also took Youth and Sports Minister, Zeogar Wilson, to the Civil Law Court for sending a communication to the international body of Chess, FIDE, informing that body of a change of leadership in the Liberian Chess Federation.

It can be recalled that stakeholders at a General Assembly of the Liberia Chess Federation in March, 2018 passed a vote of no confidence in Ireland and his leadership, accusing them of violating the organization’s constitution.

Ireland challenged the General Assembly’s decision, saying that March sitting was against the local chess federation’s constitution.

But in his ruling, the Civil Law court judge, Yussif Kaba, said the action of the General Assembly of the Liberia Chess Federation was within the confines of the constitution, as such the leadership elected as a consequence of the GA’s action was legitimate.

“In light of the foregoing, this court says that the act of the General Assembly of the Federation was within the confines of the constitution, and therefore, the leadership elected as a consequence of such action stands as the leaders of the association until otherwise ordered by term of the constitution,” the Court in its ruling said.

Reacting to the ruling Thursday, Winston Ireland said he will take an appeal against the court’s ruling to the Supreme Court.

“I’m taking an appeal against this ruling at the Supreme Court,” he said.

For his part, the Chess Federation President, William Thompson, said the Federation was happy with the ruling, but noted that it will take further legal actions against Winston Ireland for mismanaging the LCF.

He said, “We will take Ireland to court for mismanaging the Liberia Chess Federation’s resources and properties. We will not let him go free. He has caused serious hindrance for the Federation with his court actions”.

The Liberia Chess Federation president said several business entities refused to do business with the federation because of the court action. Thompson disclosed that he has the backing of executives and stakeholders of the Federation to make Winston Ireland pays for the wrongs.