Africa-Press – Liberia. Mutual Benefits Assurance Company (MBAC) is being accused of stalling enforcement proceedings ordered by the Commercial Court after abruptly abandoning settlement negotiations with Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC). The company turned to Justice-in-Chambers Clinton Johnson, who has since placed a halt on the lower court’s enforcement order and summoned both parties to a conference slated for July 30.
Last week, the Commercial Court issued a writ of execution instructing court officers to seize and sell the land, goods, and chattels of MBAC. The order, amounting to US$11,226,573.85, further authorizes the seizure of the company’s real estate if its movable assets prove insufficient.
Following the execution order, MBAC had initially expressed interest in settling the matter promptly. Legal experts note that such a move is common when a defendant acknowledges that the odds of winning in court are slim.
In a letter dated July 12, 2025, addressed to BMMC and obtained by this paper, MBAC’s Legal Counsel, Cllr. Aloysius Teah Jappah, wrote:
“I write on behalf of Mutual Benefits Assurance Company to confirm our continued commitment to an amicable resolution of the matters presently in dispute between our institutions.”
The letter further stated:
“In line with public policy favoring negotiated settlements, Mutual has authorized its designated Board members and senior management to join legal counsel in the next phase of discussions.”
“We believe this step reflects the seriousness with which we approach this matter and our desire for a principled and constructive outcome.”
Despite this, MBAC soon withdrew from the negotiation process, opting instead to seek relief from the Chambers Justice.
The dispute stems from a commercial lawsuit filed by BMMC, represented by its General Manager Hall Ozdemir, over MBAC’s alleged failure to meet its financial obligations under a contract for insurance services. BMMC is a subsidiary of Avesoro Holdings and operates Liberia’s largest commercial gold mining project in Grand Cape Mount County.
The writ of execution was signed by Chief Judge Chan-Chan A. Paegar and endorsed by Court Clerk J. Amos F. Gboweh. The court’s ruling not only authorized the seizure of MBAC’s assets but also ordered the arrest of its top executives—including the Managing Director, General Manager, Corporate Manager, and Personnel Manager—should the company fail to present assets for seizure.
Observers say his case marks one of the most significant debt enforcement actions in Liberia’s recent commercial history and is being seen by legal analysts as a strong message about judicial seriousness in enforcing final judgments and holding corporate entities accountable.
This is not the first time MBAC has resisted court orders. In April 2023, the company reportedly defied a similar writ issued by Judge Eva Mappy Morgan. At the time, MBAC allegedly locked its offices and denied entry to court officers, frustrating efforts to execute the court’s mandate.
With negotiations once again faltering, attention now turns to the July 30 conference before the Chambers Justice—a hearing that could determine the next chapter in this high-stakes legal battle.
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