By Sampat JMB Kpakimah
Paynesville: A hectic land dispute between businessman Odoshall Oldpa Karnue, owner of God’s Willing Inc., and District Six Representative Samuel Enders has intensified, with both men accusing each other of wrongdoing and calling for legal intervention to resolve competing ownership claims.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, June 17, 2026, in Monrovia, Karnue accused officers of the Liberia National Police, identified as LNP 102 and LNP 105, of abusing their authority by allegedly deploying Emergency Response Unit (ERU) officers to halt construction activities on property he claims to have legally acquired in 2019 from the estate of the late Joseph N. Tetteh.
According to Karnue, he recently moved construction materials onto the property with plans to build a gas station. He alleged that Representative Samuel Enders of Montserrado County, District #6 entered the property, damaged building materials, and later filed criminal trespass and criminal mischief complaints against his workers at the Paynesville City Court.
Karnue stated that the court dismissed the criminal trespass allegation on June 16, 2026. He further claimed that despite the ruling, Representative Enders returned to the property and continued interfering with activities at the site. The businessman alleged that police officers later deployed ERU personnel to prevent further construction, despite being presented with a certified copy of the court ruling by his lawyer, Cllr. Lawrence Tomah.
Karnue described the police intervention as an abuse of authority and called on Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh Sr. to intervene and order the withdrawal of officers from the property.
However, Representative Enders has strongly rejected the allegations and insists that he is the lawful owner of the disputed property.
In an interview, Representative Enders addressed the press clearing that air he said the land was purchased from the Tortement and Sons family in King Gray and intended to construct a children’s hospital on the site.
The lawmaker explained that the property, located near the Nagbe’s Town intersection, was fenced with zinc sheets and monitored by a caretaker.
According to him, the caretaker recently informed him that an individual was frequently visiting the property and claiming ownership. Enders alleged that Karnue later brought surveyors onto the property and that sections of the protective fence were removed.
He further claimed that when he confronted those on the land, he was assaulted, insulted, and threatened.
The representative alleged that he suffered injuries to his head, chest, and lips during the incident and that his mobile phone went missing. According to Enders, those circumstances prompted him to seek police intervention. The District Six lawmaker dismissed suggestions that the matter should be settled through influence or public pressure, insisting that the courts should determine the rightful owner of the property.
“If the court decides that the land belongs to him, I will walk away,” Enders said. “We must be a nation governed by laws.” He also questioned Karnue’s claim of ownership dating back to 2019, alleging that people were residing on the property during that period.
While both men maintain that they possess documents supporting their ownership claims, neither side has publicly presented evidence proving exclusive ownership of the property.
The dispute has now drawn public attention, with allegations ranging from assault and property destruction to abuse of police authority. As tensions continue to rise, both parties say they are prepared to allow the courts to determine the rightful ownership of the land. The Liberia National Police officers named in Karnue’s allegations had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of publication.
The Liberia Land Authority was established as the country’s one-stop institution for land governance, administration, surveys, mapping, deed registration, and certain land dispute functions. Its mandate includes maintaining land records, regulating surveys, managing land registries, and supporting land-use planning across the country.
However, according to the LLA’s Public Relations Officer, Kweshie Tetteh in a recent interview, he said the institution continues to face serious staffing and funding constraints that limit its ability to effectively carry out its responsibilities nationwide. Those challenges come at a time when land disputes remain among the most common sources of conflict in Liberia.
The LLA operates through several technical departments responsible for land registration, surveys and mapping, valuation, and customary land administration. The Authority is also expected to maintain accurate records and regulate land transactions throughout the country.
