By Danesius Marteh- archie2024@gmail.com /+231776236528 (WhatsApp)
It is a story that will leave you scratching your head in utter disbelief.
For a human rights advocate, who has been campaigning for justice for victims of the civil war in Liberia, to be an agent of injustice is terribly disgusting.
The Bushrod Island magisterial court in New Kru Town has ordered war and economic crimes court advocate Hassan Bility to pay US$5,475 for wrongful possession of a property belonging to Ishmael Roberts.
In an action of summary proceedings to recover possession of real property, which began on December 1, 2025, Bility was ordered to pay the accrued rent due to Roberts.
In a ruling delivered by stipendiary magistrate Catherine Nyenkan on 7 July 2026, the clerk was ordered to issue a writ of possession in Ishmael’s favor and place same in the hands of the sheriff to have Bility evicted and ousted from the house in the St. Paul Bridge community, which is a stone’s throw from the shadow football field by the Bethel World Outreach Church.
Bility was also ordered to pay the cost of court in a tale that resembles from the frying pan to the fire.
The court established that Ishmael holds lawful title and ownership rights to the property and Bility entered and occupied the premises pursuant to an arrangement with Ishmael.
It also established that Bility did renovation and improvement works on the property and that Bility has been living in the house for 11 years.
But the court finds that the value of the renovation works has been exhausted and offset by Bility’s prolonged and continuous occupancy and enjoyment of the property.
Ishmael, through his legal counsel, wanted Bility to pay US$10,840 for occupying the four-bed room house as an undesirable tenant-at-will, who has willfully refused to leave his house.
Bility’s lawyer, Atty. Edward Bledee, excepted to the ruling and gave a notice to the court that he will take advantage of the law controlling to appeal the decision, which was granted but that appeal was never perfected in keeping with the time prescribed by law.
So clerk of court, Amos S. Taylor, issued a certificate on 29 July 2026 that (a) no appeal bond was filed and approved by the trial magistrate within the statutory period prescribed by law and the appellant (Bility’s lawyer) filed a signed bill of exceptions on 24 July 2026 and (b) the appellant has otherwise failed to comply with the mandatory statutory requirement for the completion and perfection of the appeal.
Bility, as we went to press, is still occupying the house, with a promise that he wants to pay less than US$1,500 and will leave on 20 September.
An analysis
It can’t be overstated how truly baffling a ruling this was.
With 11 years gone, the court has finally and lawfully given Ishmael his house albeit Bility is still demonstrating arrogance in vacating the property.
Call it a crisis of character, call it a terrible time to stumble, there were issues everywhere you looked, especially for a respected journalist, who has been advocating for those who bear the greatest responsibility of the 14-year civil war in Liberia to account for their war and economic crimes.
Bility’s Global Justice and Research Project in Monrovia where he serves as an executive director has been pushing for war crimes accountability progress in Liberia and in overseas jurisdictions, and its successes as well as possible support for Liberia’s future accountability mechanisms, has been rewarding but this ruling has certainly questioned his credibility and integrity.
It leaves one to wonder why some people preach what they don’t practice.
One lawyer has suggested that Ishmael can pray the Civil Law Court for a forceful eviction in which Bility’s belongings will be thrown out in an early morning raid in the full view of the press.
Until that time and in the words of Prime FM 105.5 rule of law and security expert Alfred Jah Johnson, there is everywhere else and there is a place called Liberia.
