Liberia: ‘I am Not a Tribal Chief Justice,” - Chief Justice Gbeisay Responds to Public Reactions Following Gompa City Magisterial Court Ruling - FrontPageAfrica

01 Oct 2026, 04:54 · FrontPage Africa Online

Liberia: ‘I am Not a Tribal Chief Justice,” – Chief Justice Gbeisay Responds to Public Reactions Following Gompa City Magisterial Court Ruling

Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr.

NIMBA COUNTY – Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has responded to public reactions following a Gompa City Magisterial Court ruling in the Kalefa Turay Land Dispute that resulted in the eviction of some occupants.

By Franklin Doloquee

“Fellow Liberians, my attention has been drawn to deliberate attempts by some individuals to inject tribal sentiments into the judgment of the Gompa City Magisterial Court regarding the Kalefa Turay Land Dispute with some squatters,” Chief Justice Gbeisay said.

“I wish to speak directly and clearly to the Liberian people. First, I am not a tribal Chief Justice. I am the Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia. I took a sacred oath before God and this nation, as required by Article 70 of our Constitution, to administer justice without fear or favor and to give equal rights and justice to all persons. The oath did not say justice for one tribe or against another tribe. It said justice for all,” Chief Justice Gbeisay noted.

Chief Justice Gbeisay emphasized that his loyalty is to the Constitution and the laws of Liberia, not to any tribe, county or party to a case. Addressing the Gompa City judgment and the eviction, the Chief Justice acknowledged the emotional nature of land disputes.

“Land is identity. Land is livelihood and land is a heritage. I understand the pain and anxiety of all our people in Nimba and particularly in Gompa City. But this is precisely why these cases must be decided in the courtroom on the basis of evidence and law not in the streets, not on social media and certainly not on the basis of tribal sentiments,” he stated.

He pointed out that no case under his watch “will be decided on tribal affiliation.”

The Chief Justice said he was reliably informed that the Turay Family purchased the disputed property as far back as 1951 under a public land sale deed signed by the late former President William V.S. Tubman.

He added that buildings were constructed on the land and leased to tenants, including the Government of Liberia(GoL) until the civil crisis.

‘‘A court action was filed and judgment rendered in favor of the Toure Family; the ruling was not appealed, but attempts to stop execution of the judgment have been made using tribal sentiment and claims of eminent domain,’’ the Chief Justice asserted.

‘‘Courts base their rulings only on evidence. A court knows no Kpelle, no Mano, no Gio, no Mandingo, no Bassa or any other tribe. In the Temple of Justice and court rooms in Liberia, there is only one tribe and that tribe is justice,” Chief Justice Gbeisay stated.

The Chief Justice welcomed constructive criticisms but strongly condemned what he called the deliberate weaponization of tribal identity to intimidate the judiciary.

“Attempting to tribalize a land case is to put fire on our national house. Liberia has been down that road before and we all know where it led us. We must not go there again,” he warned.

The Chief Justice reaffirmed his commitment to defend the Constitution and uphold legally rendered judgments throughout the Republic for as long as he serves as Chief Justice.

The statement follows a 30-day jail sentence handed down to former Ganta City Mayor Amos N.G. Suah for remarks he made about the Gompa Magisterial Court during a recent eviction process in Ganta in favor of the Toure Family.

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Liberia: ‘I am Not a Tribal Chief Justice,” - Chief Justice Gbeisay Responds to Public Reactions Following Gompa City Magisterial Court Ruling - FrontPageAfrica