ECOWAS Court Delivers Judgment on Violation of Liberia Party’s Rights

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a judgment in a suit brought by a Liberian political party, True Whig Party (TWP) alleging the violation of its rights to property, fair hearing, and effective remedy by the Republic of Liberia.

Delivering its judgment, the Court declared it had jurisdiction to entertain the matter. It also declared that the Applicant’s application was admissible, but however ruled that there was no violation of right to property by the Republic of Liberia.

Lawyer to the applicant averred that True Whig Party was founded in 1869 and registered as a political entity in Liberia and was the ruling party until 1980 when the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) orchestrated a coup. The party claimed that thirteen of its members were summarily executed, and its headquarters, the ‘E.J Roye Building’ was confiscated by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), the self-styled military government.

The applicant argued that despite an amendment of the decree which allowed the return of the confiscated E.J Roye Building, the respondent did not return the property, and its subsequent offer to buy the building for $600,000 was refused.

It further explained that afterwards, the respondent entered into a questionable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with former party members who received $130,000 in 2013, though their tenure had expired.

The applicant said it also opposed the respondent’s attempt to change ownership of the property to the state’s agency – the National Oil Company (NOCAL).

It contended that the confiscation violated its rights, particularly rights to fair hearing and property under the Liberian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), and International Treaties.

It asked the Court to make a declaration that the forceful takeover of the applicant’s headquarters – E. J Roye Building in Monrovia, Liberia is illegal and violated its fundamental right. It also sought an order of the Court directing the Respondent to pay the sum of $10 million to the applicant as aggravated and general damages.

On its part, the respondent, the State of Liberia acknowledged the killing of the party’s leader and the confiscation of properties including the party’s headquarters building which is the subject matter of the case.

The respondent said it sought reconciliation when it made a gratuitous payment of $225,000 for the party’s relocation and rebuilding, and insisted the applicant was bound by the MoU indicating the Applicant has leased the property to another establishment. It urged the Court to declare the application inadmissible due to a prior ruling of the Supreme Court of Liberia on the same subject matter, adding that the application was an abuse of court process.

In its judgment, the Court held that the applicant failed to prove that its right to fair hearing, guaranteed under Article 7 of the African Charter has been violated by the respondent.

On the allegation of violation of the applicant’s right to property (ownership of the E.J. Roye Building), the Court noted that the applicant’s claim was unsubstantiated and declared that the respondent did not violate the applicant’s right to property as guaranteed by Article 14 of the African Charter

The judgment was delivered by the Judge Rapporteur, Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki. Other judges on the panel were Hon. Justices Sengu M. Koroma and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves.

ECOWAS Court Delivers Judgment on Violation of Liberia Party’s Rights