Supreme Court Ruling Reaffirms 2016 Eviction Order
The legal battle over the property housing the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headquarters has reached a decisive turning point, as the Supreme Court of Liberia has reaffirmed its 2016 ruling ordering the party’s removal from the disputed land.
According to the estate of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard, represented by Administrator Ebrima Varney Dempster, the CDC must pay US$4.5 million if it wishes to retain the property currently serving as its national headquarters. The land in question, located on 4.23 acres in Monrovia, has been at the center of a long-standing legal dispute.
In its ruling on Thursday, May 28, 2025, during the March Term sitting, the Supreme Court dismissed a Bill of Information filed by the CDC, labeling it a “preposterous, impermissible, and legal charade” designed solely to delay the party’s eviction. The Court made clear that its 2016 judgment remains binding and must be enforced.
In a stinging rebuke, the Court also imposed a US$500 fine on CDC’s legal team, ordering that the amount be paid into government revenue within 72 hours.
Speaking via mobile phone on the popular talk show The Class Reloaded, Administrator Dempster emphasized that his actions are not politically motivated.
“I hold no personal grudge against the CDC,” Dempster stated. “All I want is for the right thing to be done.”
Dempster further explained that the US$4.5 million figure reflects the current market value of the property and serves as a fair resolution should the CDC wish to remain on the land. He stressed that any decision to stay must be grounded in legality and compensation, not prolonged legal resistance.
The Supreme Court’s decision signals a critical moment for the CDC, which now faces the option of either settling the multimillion-dollar demand or complying with the eviction order. With the legal window rapidly closing, the party is under pressure to determine its next move.
As of press time, the CDC had not issued an official response to the ruling or the Administrator’s latest statement.
This case marks one of the most high-profile property disputes involving a major political party in recent Liberian history and could set a precedent for how land conflicts involving state actors are resolved moving forward.
Source: OK FM
