Liberian Court Rules Against Daughter in High-Profile Estate Fraud Case
MONROVIA, Liberia – In a landmark ruling that underscores the importance of proper estate documentation and inheritance rights, the Civil Law Court of Liberia has found Nohad Hage Mensah legally responsible for falsifying property deeds connected to her late father’s estate, according to court documents and testimony.
Jury Verdict Ends Years of Legal Wrangling
A 12-member jury unanimously determined that Mensah, daughter of deceased Lebanese businessman Millad Hage, illegally altered property documents and improperly collected rental income from tenants occupying estate properties. The verdict culminates a legal battle that began in 2018 when Oumou Sirleaf Hage, the businessman’s widow, filed a formal complaint alleging her stepdaughter presented fraudulent deeds to claim ownership of family assets.
The case reached the Civil Law Court following a Supreme Court mandate after Madam Hage challenged an earlier probate court decision that had transferred the disputed properties to Mensah based on the contested documentation.
Disputed Properties and Inheritance Rights
The contested real estate, located in Monrovia’s commercially significant Red Light Community, includes:
• 2.5 lots originally purchased from John and Beatrice Dozen, which Madam Hage maintains were intended for her and her biological children
• 1 lot acquired from Rev. May Roberts, which the widow acknowledges legally belongs to Nohad and other children of the late businessman
Widow’s Testimony Reveals Complex Family Dynamics
During proceedings, Madam Hage testified that her stepdaughter had no connection to the original property acquisitions, which were solely conducted by her late husband. “When Nohad brought those deeds, it was surprising,” she stated in court. “How can you be the landlord, sell land to my husband, then turn around and sell the same land to his daughter with different deeds?”
The widow further explained that the original deeds had been used as collateral at Ecobank to help settle loans her husband held with LBDI and IB Bank, indicating the documents had legitimate financial history that contradicted the later versions presented by Mensah.
Legal Precedent for Estate Fraud Cases
The court’s ruling reinforces important legal procedures for handling fraud allegations in inheritance matters. The Civil Law Court explicitly affirmed that all claims of fraudulent property titles arising from probate proceedings must undergo full trial in the Civil Division of the Circuit Court, ensuring comprehensive due process and legal compliance.
This clarification establishes a significant precedent for how similar estate disputes should be handled within Liberia’s judicial system, potentially affecting future inheritance cases where documentation authenticity is questioned.
Broader Implications for Property Rights in Liberia
The case highlights ongoing challenges in property rights enforcement and estate administration in Liberia, where proper documentation and clear inheritance protocols remain crucial for economic stability and family security. Legal experts note that such rulings help strengthen the country’s property rights framework by demonstrating the judiciary’s willingness to address documentation fraud decisively.
The verdict serves as a cautionary tale for families and estate administrators about the importance of maintaining transparent, verifiable property records and following proper legal channels in inheritance distributions.
This report is based on original coverage from Knews Online. For complete details of the original proceedings, readers are directed to the source publication.