-Transfer Property to Oniyama
By Vaye Lepolu
MONROVIA, Liberia– The Civil Law Court has ruled that the Estate of the late Martha Stubberfield Bernard must transfer ownership of 10 parcels of land in Sinkor to Dr. C. Nelson Oniyama after determining that he fully honored the terms of a land purchase agreement valued at US$132,000. The property held the headquarters of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) before its controversial demolition.
The judgment was handed down on Monday by Assigned Circuit Judge Nelson B. Chineh, who granted Dr. Oniyama’s petition for specific performance against the Bernard Estate and its administrator, Ebrima Dempster. The ruling requires the estate to finalize the sale by executing and registering the necessary legal documents to transfer ownership of the property.
The contested property consists of approximately 4.23 acres of land situated along Tubman Boulevard, opposite the Cuttington Graduate School in Sinkor. Court records indicate that Dr. Oniyama and representatives of the estate entered into two Memoranda of Understanding in 2016 outlining the terms of the transaction.
According to the court, evidence presented during the proceedings showed that Dr. Oniyama paid the full purchase price, while the estate failed to complete the transfer process despite receiving the funds. The court found the agreements legally binding and enforceable.
In his ruling, Judge Chineh stated that the estate was obligated to fulfill the contractual commitments outlined in the agreements signed on April 30, 2016, and August 5, 2016. He ordered the respondents to convey the land to Dr. Oniyama through a duly probated and registered deed and assessed legal costs against the estate.
Following the decision, attorneys representing the Bernard Estate immediately announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, challenging the lower court’s judgment. The appeal, which was granted by the court, automatically stays enforcement of the ruling until the Supreme Court reviews the matter.
The case now moves to Liberia’s highest court, where a final determination is expected on the ownership of the prime Sinkor property. The dispute is among several high-profile land cases that continue to highlight the complexities of property ownership and contract enforcement in Liberia.
