The Supreme Court of Liberia has delivered a final blow to the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), ordering the former ruling party to leave the disputed property it has used as its national headquarters. The court upheld a lower court’s decision to evict the CDC in a case that has been dragging through the judiciary since 2023.
In a ruling handed down Thursday, the nation’s highest court dismissed a bill of information filed by CDC’s legal team, who were seeking to challenge a previous eviction order. The Supreme Court determined that the petition lacked legal merit and failed to show any interference with its earlier judgment.
The decision reinforces a March 2024 ruling that placed the disputed Interstate Estate property under the authority of the Martha Stubblefield Barnard family, the legally recognized owners.
As part of Thursday’s decision, three CDC lawyers, A. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, Thompson M. Jargba, and James N. Kumeh, were fined US$500 each and ordered to pay the amount into government revenue within 72 hours.
The CDC has occupied the property for years under a lease agreement but was previously found liable for unpaid rent amounting to US$50,000, which triggered the legal dispute that has now reached its conclusion.
With this ruling, the court has cleared the path for enforcement of the eviction order, leaving the CDC with no further legal recourse.
The party must now find a new location for its headquarters, marking a major political and operational shift for the former ruling establishment.
Legal experts say the ruling not only affirms property rights but also sends a strong message about the rule of law, regardless of political standing.
