From Prosecution Witness In CPP Framework Document Forgery Case To Defendant In Land Deal Saga
PHOTO: Former VP Joe Boakai
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Less than six months to presidential and legislative elections, another scandal has broken out in the ranks of the opposition, with the latest linking the Standard Bearer of the main opposition Unity Party (UP), former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
The Civil Law Court Judge Kennedy Peabody has issued a writ of summoned on the former ruling UP political Leader based on a petition filed by petitioner Arnold Kandakai, a Liberian based in the United States for petition for removal of cloud over Title Deed.
Neither the UP’s Standard Bearer nor his party has so far reacted to the latest lawsuit.
This latest lawsuit against Mr. Boakai comes many months after another opposition leader, Alexander Cummings of the ANC was sued for allegedly tampering with the former original Collaborating Political Party (CPP) framework document in which the UP leader testified in the Monrovia City Court against Cummings. The case was later dropped by the prosecution. It was Boakai’s political partner, Benoni Urey and his All Liberian Party (ALP) that led the alleged forgery lawsuit against Cummings.
In the latest case of alleged illegal land sale against Boakai, the petitioner complaint said the petitioner is a law-abiding Liberian citizen and a resident of the United States of America, and in order to protect and defend his interest in Liberia while residing elsewhere on the December 22, 2020 appointed Reginald Bright.
The petitioner furthered that he is the owner of Twenty-one acres of land, lying situated in Caldwell Town as a result of genuine purchase from Joe Young who at the time of purchased, acted as petition’s representative for which he was compensated and through whom the amount US$8,500.00 constituting purchased price excluding the surveying, probation and recording cost at the National archives.
The petitioner maintained that upon receipt of the above amount, the respondent instead of insuring that the title deed was issued in petitioner’s name, he instructed the surveyor and Joe Young, the grantor to issued said title deed in the names of both petitioner and respondent making respondent co-owner of said property (21 acres of land).
“Respondent assured petitioner that same was an error and that he would have corrected same since December 1994 long before the probation of said deed in 1995 but respondent grossly failed and refused to do so, despite several appeals to include the 2018 communication that was served on him as a further reminder for the correction of the title deed to be changed solely and wholly in the petitioner name,” the petitioner noted.
“In furtherance of Respondent’s nefarious, malicious, wicked, ungodly and devilish act against the peaceful person of petitioner with consent of respondent sometimes in December 2022 a title deed was drafted to be signed by respondent, thus transferring title to petitioner, but again respondent with his usual tactics refused to sign same; simply because respondent had without the knowledge and consent of petitioner unilaterally sold several portions of the said parcel of land to individuals who have erected dwelling structures thereon to the detriment of petitioner for which petitioner is unable to develop and enjoy his rights as enshrined in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia,” the petitioner concluded.
The writ indicated that, “You are hereby commanded to summons the above name respondents/defendant (s) in the above entitled cause of action to appear before the March term A.D. 2023 same being the 20th Day of March AD 2023 at the hour of 10: am.”
“You are further ordered to summons the respondents (s) defendant (s)the here in to file his/ her their returns (s) to the petitioner (s) plaintiff (s) petition complaints on /or before the 22th day of April AD 2023 failure to do so, Default judgment will be rendered against him/ Her them” the writ said.
UP Political Leader Boakai is expected to appear before the Court on or before the April 22, at the hour of 10am and failure to do so default judgment will be rendered against him.