EDWARD H. STEMN
Africa-Press – Liberia. The Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo Sodoken District in Maryland County has evicted a staff member of Maryland County Senator James Biney from his home office in Pleebo due to his failure to settle rental payments.
The decision of the court is a result of repeated notices and warnings that were served to the senator regarding the outstanding rent payments of US$4,500 owed to Zinnah B. Siaffa, the owner of the property.
Siaffa, on July 4, initiated summary proceedings against Senator Biney for his alleged failure to meet up with his financial obligations that date back to 2022; he prayed the court to prevail on the Senator to settle his outstanding debt or vacate the property with immediate effect.
This was after Biney’s staffers refused to leave the property months after receiving notice from Siaffa to have the premises vacated.
In a letter dated March 17, 2023 and signed by Zinnah and his wife, Gertrude Wallace, the couple stated: “We are extremely constrained to serve you this notice to vacate our house situated in Pleebo Zone 2 beginning this March 17 to the 17th day of May 2023, due to your long time delinquency in rent payments; for making the house vulnerable to robbers without security; and for poor management of the facilities. Please be reminded that the rent agreement between us expired on March 30, 2023.
Be reminded also that you are in arrears with us in the amount of US$6,500, which rent is needed to settle some obligations of ours. Please take due note of this notice and govern yourself accordingly,” the letter States
However, after the court’s eviction order, Maryland County Public Defender, Atty. Adolphus Taylor, in a counterargument, noted that the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court lacks legal jurisdiction over the case. The defense lawyer stated that the court cannot adjudicate or hear a case worth more than US$2,000 in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia.
But the Magistrate in Chambers, Magistrate Emmanuel Nyepan, insisted that though the amount in question is above the court’s legal jurisdiction, the court has the legal authority to investigate or hear summary proceedings.
In defense of its legal authority to hear summary proceedings, Nyepan stated: “In civil matters, Magistrates have jurisdiction in civil matters for the recovery of money, chattels, or debts not exceeding $2,000.01 in value.”
The court found Senator Biney guilty and ordered his office staff to leave Siaffa’s property.
Biney’s legal team, however, asked the court to give the local staff four days, after which they would vacate the property and turn the keys over to the house owner through the court.
Meanwhile, inventory conducted on the property, according to the court, shows damage to twelve (12) locks, two (2) doors, and bathroom mirror sets.
According to the property owner, the Maryland County Senator is paying US$250 per month, amounting to a total of US$3,000 a year. Senator Biney had earlier owed US$6,500 but, following a series of engagements, he paid US$2,000 out of said amount in July of this year.
Though the Maryland County lawmaker has been occupying the building since his campaign in 2020, Siaffa said Biney has paid for 2020 and 2021. Biney was elected senator of Maryland County in 2020, after serving as a representative of Harper District for 12 years. Prior to this, he served as the National Patriotic Party’s representative to the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) between 2003 and 2005.
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