Monrovia – The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) filed a Bill of Information on August 29, 2024, to the Civil Law Court. Despite the filing, the judge has not yet issued an assignment to hear the matter.
The CDC is seeking the court’s guidance on how to proceed with rent payments to the legitimate landlord of a contested property. The party’s complaint aims to ensure they remain in compliance with the law.
A communication was addressed to Mr. Victor Gailo, Clerk of Court for Civil Law Court “A” at the Temple of Justice, on behalf of the CDC by its Acting Chairman, Attorney Janga Kowo, based in Monrovia, Montserrado County.
The case involves the Testate Estate of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard, represented by its administrator, Ebrahima Varney Dempster, and the Intestate Estate of the late William Thomas Bernard, represented by its administrator, Archibald F. Bernard, along with other heirs.
The CDC’s letter to Presiding Circuit Judge Golda A. Bonah Elliott of the Sixth Judicial Circuit requested the issuance of a Notice of Assignment for a hearing on the Bill of Information.
Background
In 2015, Ebrahima Dempster, on behalf of the intestate estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard, won a court case asserting that the property in question was awarded as a dowry right to her. The court issued a writ of possession, and the CDC began negotiations to lease the property.
However, in 2019, the intestate estate of the late Danielette P. Tucker Bernard, represented by Danielle Thelma T. Bernard, filed a suit against both the Testate Estate of William Thomas Bernard and the intestate estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard. They argued that the property was originally deeded to both William Thomas Bernard and Danielette P. Tucker Bernard under joint tenancy laws. Since William Thomas predeceased Danielette, the property title should have passed to Danielette, according to their claim.
The case won at the Lower Court, prompting an appeal by the intestate estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard to the Supreme Court, where the case remains unresolved.
CDC’s Position
The CDC, which currently occupies the property, has made rent payments in good faith to Mr. Ebrima Dempster from 2018 to 2023. Additionally, the party offered to purchase the property for $4.2 million.
However, the CDC discovered that the property is still entangled in an ongoing legal dispute at the Supreme Court of Liberia. As a result, the party has requested to continue paying annual rent until the Supreme Court reaches a final ruling.
The CDC now awaits a court hearing to receive legal guidance on how to proceed with rent payments and avoid legal complications.
