Monrovia, Liberia — The Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice has ruled in favor of football administrator and FC Fassell President, Cassell Anthony Kouh, affirming his eligibility to contest the upcoming Liberia Football Association (LFA) elections and ordering the lifting of an earlier injunction that had stalled the electoral process.
The decision, handed down by Assigned Circuit Judge His Honor Peter W. Gbeneweleh, marks a major turning point in a high-profile legal dispute that had threatened to derail the April 18 LFA Congress and created widespread uncertainty within Liberian football governance.
In its ruling, the court determined that Kouh, as a registered member of the Liberia Football Association and a former Vice President of the institution, has the legal standing and right to participate in the electoral process.
The court further relied on provisions of Liberia’s Civil Procedure Law, which empowers it to issue declaratory judgments establishing legal rights and relations even without granting additional relief. On that basis, the court granted Kouh’s petition for declaratory judgment.
Importantly, Judge Gbeneweleh declared that Kouh “has the right to contest the LFA upcoming elections” and should be allowed to proceed through the established electoral process.
However, the court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the LFA’s 2018 statutes and electoral guidelines, which formed a central part of the legal challenge. The judge clarified that matters of constitutional interpretation fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The court’s decision effectively dissolved an earlier stay order that had frozen all election-related activities and brought preparations for the April 18 vote to a standstill.
Respondents, including the LFA Elections Committee, had argued that Kouh failed to comply with procedural requirements, including proper submission for vetting under the association’s electoral rules.
Delivering the final order, the court stated:
“WHEREFORE AND IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, this Court hereby declines the constitutionality of the LFA 2018 Approved Statutes which is cognizable before the Supreme Court of Liberia. This Court hereby declares the rights of Petitioner Cassell Anthony Kouh to contest the LFA upcoming Elections, and he should avail himself to the electoral process.”
The court further instructed the Clerk to lift the injunction and directed the respondents to proceed with preparations for the LFA electoral process.
“AND IT IS HEREBY SO ORDERED,” the ruling concluded.
The judgment now paves the way for Kouh’s participation in the elections while restoring momentum to the long-delayed LFA Congress, though legal questions surrounding the governing statutes remain unresolved at the Supreme Court level.
