Paynesville – The visually-impaired Deputy Director General for Operations at the National Transit Authority (NTA), Mr. Noah Zawu Gibson, has been summoned by the Paynesville Magisterial Court for alleged interference in a land dispute case. It is further alleged that Gibson incited residents to resist a court-ordered eviction.
The court’s order which came from Stipendiary Magistrate William G. Saygah on Monday, May 26, comes in the wake of a Civil Law Court mandate ordering the enforcement of a previous ruling in favor of Joseph W. Bussie.
Henry Garmondeh, Bussie’s, Attorney-in-fact, successfully pursued summary proceedings to recover possession of a property for his client. The said the property is located in Jacob Town, Paynesville.
In the court’s papers, which are in the possession of this outlet, the visually-impaired is accused of intimidating, disorderly conduct, and criminal coercion in violation of Sections 14.25, 17.3, and 14.27 of the New Penal Code.
Gibson and others are accused of allegedly trespassing on the property. The court papers further state that Gibson and others publicly accused Bussie and his legal representatives of being “criminal land dealers,” and aired the allegations on ELBC Radio’s Nightline Liberia show.
The accusations reportedly subjected the complainants to public ridicule, fear for safety, and reputational damage.
The situation escalated after the Civil Law Court, presided over by Assigned Circuit Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar reaffirmed the magistrate court’s ruling and denied a motion for relief from judgment filed by the defendants, including Martha Johnson, Daniel Sackie, Aminata Bangura, Sinneh Kuto, Prince S. Makor, Lamie Dixon, and James Korkollie.
The Circuit Court’s ruling emphasized that the defendants failed to file an appeal in due time, thereby confirming the eviction order.
Following the mandate, the Magisterial Court issued a Writ of Possession directing law enforcement to remove the occupants from the disputed property.
In light of escalating tensions, the court requested police backup from the Liberia National Police to ensure the peaceful execution of the eviction, citing threats allegedly made by some defendants against court officers.
It is in this tense legal backdrop that Gibson, a senior public official, is alleged to have used his influence to encourage continued occupation of the property in defiance of the court’s decision.
His involvement is said to have emboldened the defendants and complicated the enforcement of the court’s mandate.
The case has drawn public interest, not only due to the involvement of a government official but also because of the broader implications it may have on judicial authority and the rule of law in property rights enforcement across Montserrado County.
Visually-impaired Gibson is scheduled to appear before the court on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. to answer the charges.
This case underscores ongoing tensions in Liberia’s land tenure system, where competing claims and the politicization of property disputes continue to challenge the judiciary’s capacity to deliver timely and impartial justice.
