Liberia: Court Strikes Down 931.4-Acre Land Grab in Grand Gedeh

B'hai Reclaims Ancestral Land in Landmark Victory

In a decisive and far-reaching ruling, the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County has crushed an attempt to seize 931.4 acres of customary land, declaring the Development Grant Deed issued to the Grand Gedeh County Authority illegal, null, and void ab initio.

The Court found that the entire process used to obtain the deed was fatally flawed and in direct violation of the Land Rights Law of 2018, including the complete failure to follow mandatory procedures governing customary land.

In one of the clearest affirmations of customary land rights in recent years, the Court ordered that the land immediately reverts to the B'hai people, recognizing them as the lawful and legitimate owners.

The ruling further mandates the Liberia Land Authority to cancel the deed from its registry, effectively wiping it out of legal existence.

The case was aggressively pursued by Cllr. Poliyon Alphonsus Zeon, Senior Partner of Justice Advocates Law Group (JALG), who led the legal charge to expose what has now been judicially confirmed as an unlawful land transaction.

The effort was backed by the Liberia Land Authority, which supported the cancellation and affirmed before the Court that the deed lacked legal foundation.

"This judgment is not just a legal victory -- it is a powerful warning," said Cllr. Poliyon Alphonsus Zeon. "Customary land in Liberia is not for illegal capture. The law is clear, and today the Court has made it even clearer: community land belongs to the people -- and anyone who wants it must negotiate with the people."

Justice Advocates Law Group (JALG) continues to stand at the forefront of protecting rural communities from unlawful land dispossession.

Through its legal clinic in Grand Gedeh County, JALG:

· Provides free and accessible legal support in land disputes

· Educates citizens on their rights under the Land Rights Act of 2018

· Assists communities in formalizing land ownership and drafting agreements

This ruling sends an unmistakable message across Liberia: any attempt to acquire customary land in violation of the law will be overturned.

The Court's decision reinforces that due process is not optional, and that customary land rights are fully protected under Liberian law.- Press release

Read the original article on New Dawn.