The Monrovia City Court has ordered the eviction of Liberia’s Ombudsman Office following its continued failure to pay rent and vacate a property owned by Mr. Andrew N. Massaquoi.
The lease agreement, originally signed in October 2025, expired but was effectively renewed under the same terms after the Ombudsman Office remained in possession of the premises. However, the agreement was later terminated by the General Services Agency (GSA) on December 12, 2025.
Under Liberian law, a lease may be considered automatically renewed if a tenant does not surrender the property upon its expiration. Due to the Ombudsman Office’s failure to meet its rental obligations, the court issued a Writ of Possession, granting Mr. Massaquoi the legal authority to reclaim his property.
Speaking to journalists in Monrovia on Tuesday, Mr. Massaquoi disclosed that the Ombudsman Office has occupied his building rent-free since October 29, 2025. He noted that despite several attempts to resolve the matter—including written communications, phone calls, and direct meetings with both GSA officials and Ombudsman representatives—the office has refused to settle its outstanding rent.
He expressed concern that an institution established to promote accountability and integrity is instead undermining the rights of a private citizen. According to him, the situation has resulted in financial losses, emotional strain, and damage to his property. He is now calling on the Government of Liberia and civil society groups to intervene and ensure he receives the payments owed to him.
The eviction order comes at a time when the Ombudsman Office is facing increasing scrutiny over allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds, and internal disagreements.
In a recent interview on Prime FM (105.5), former Chairperson Cllr. Prof. Finley Y. Karngar revealed that his resignation stemmed from ongoing conflicts with fellow commissioners Lamii Kpagoi and Etmonia Martin. He described the working environment as toxic, alleging that he faced hostility and smear campaigns after refusing to approve expenditures that fell outside approved government budgets. His resignation was subsequently accepted by President Joseph Boakai, who praised his contributions.
Additionally, documents obtained indicate that while the GSA was in discussions to relocate the Ombudsman Office from its Congo Back Road location, Commissioners Kpagoi and Martin were allegedly promoting an alternative landlord. This development reportedly caused the GSA to suspend relocation plans, resulting in the office remaining in Mr. Massaquoi’s building.
However, Commissioners Kpagoi and Martin have rejected these claims, describing them as deliberate attempts to damage the reputation of the Ombudsman Office, despite assertions that supporting evidence exists.
Amid these developments, citizens and stakeholders are calling on President Boakai to initiate a thorough investigation into the Ombudsman Office in order to restore credibility and public confidence in one of Liberia’s key integrity institutions.
