By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – The Supreme Court of Liberia has upheld an eviction order against the headquarters of the former ruling party, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), in a long-standing land dispute involving the intestate estate of the late William Thomas Bernard and his widow, Danilette Tucker Bernard.
However, in a significant reversal, the high court overturned a lower court’s decision that had granted sole ownership of the contested 12.92-acre property to Mrs. Bernard. The ruling resolves a protracted legal battle over the prime parcel of land, which was jointly acquired during the couple’s marriage and later housed the CDC’s headquarters.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, had misapplied the principle of survivorship by awarding full ownership to Mrs. Bernard after her husband’s death. The justices clarified that survivorship rights expire upon the dissolution of marriage by death, meaning the property should have reverted to the estate for proper probate administration.
“The trial court erred in its interpretation of survivorship,” the ruling stated. “The property must undergo probate to determine lawful distribution among rightful heirs.” Attorneys for the Bernard Estate had argued that the Civil Law Court disregarded critical evidence, including discrepancies in property deeds from 2017 and 2018, valuation reports, and ownership records.
The Supreme Court agreed, noting that the jury’s verdict should have been dismissed due to substantial legal and factual errors. The disputed land has been a focal point of political and legal scrutiny, entangled in internal family disputes and broader legal challenges since the CDC’s tenure in power.
The ruling was signed by former Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh and all Associate Justices, reinforcing the court’s unanimous stance on the matter.
With the eviction order affirmed, the CDC may be required to vacate the premises, while the estate will now proceed with probate proceedings to determine the rightful distribution of the property among heirs.
CDC Vows Legal Fight:
Last week Thursday, the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) vowed to pursue all legal avenues to challenge recent court rulings in its ongoing property dispute, even as it makes contingency plans to relocate its national headquarters. The conflict centers on the party’s longstanding Congo Town compound, which is now at the center of a legal battle with the Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard, represented by Ebrima Varney Dempster.
CDC National Chairman Atty. Janga A. Kowo confirmed the party has faced multiple legal setbacks, including the denial of its Motion to Dismiss and a subsequent Writ of Certiorari filed before Chamber Justice Cianeh Clinton Johnson. Kowo criticized these rulings as abuses of judicial discretion, arguing they were issued without proper consideration of legal merits, thereby threatening Liberia’s rule of law.
The CDC has now escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, filing appeals in two parallel cases: a dismissed “Specific Performance” lawsuit seeking enforcement of a purchase agreement and an ongoing summary proceeding for property recovery initiated by the estate. The party’s legal team has finalized Bills of Exceptions, approved by Judge George W. Smith, and is completing the appeals process.
The dispute stems from a 2024 Right of First Refusal offer extended to the CDC by the estate, which the party accepted, intending to purchase the property it has occupied for over 20 years. However, negotiations broke down when the estate allegedly resisted standard due diligence checks. In May 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the CDC’s legal tenancy after an initial eviction attempt, but weeks later, on June 2, the estate issued a new one-week eviction notice.
In response, the CDC filed for “Specific Performance” to compel the sale, but Judge Smith dismissed the case without a hearing. The court then allowed a separate summary eviction proceeding to advance—a move the CDC claims violates Section 11.2.1(d) of Liberia’s Civil Procedure Law. The party also raised alarm over Smith’s unusual directive for the Liberia National Police, rather than court sheriffs, to enforce any eviction, suggesting judicial bias.
While preparing Supreme Court appeals, the CDC is simultaneously arranging a potential relocation of its headquarters, signaling readiness for all outcomes. Kowo urged supporters to remain calm but reiterated the party’s commitment to fighting what it calls “arbitrary judicial actions” that compromise fair process.
