The Supreme Court of Liberia has issued an order to suspend all operations between the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Traffic Management (LTM) following a legal dispute surrounding the Minister of Justice’s defiance of a court-issued writ.
The ruling has generated considerable attention from legal experts and the public, raising serious questions about the Ministry’s action and the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.The controversy erupted on January 27, 2025, when the Modern Development and Management Corporation (MDMC), a private entity, filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice.
The lawsuit stemmed from the Ministry’s decision to allow a foreign company to take over the operations of Liberia’s vehicle registration and driver’s license processes—powers that the Ministry of Transport traditionally oversaw.
The MDMC argued that this move by the Ministry was an overreach and, more critically, a violation of a writ of prohibition issued by the Supreme Court earlier in the month.The writ of prohibition, an order designed to prevent further unauthorized action, was intended to halt any attempts to interfere with or alter the operations of LTM.
Despite this clear directive, the Justice Minister disregarded the writ and issued a public statement on January 27, instructing the public to continue engaging with the LTM for vehicle registration and driver’s licensing.
This defiance of the Supreme Court’s order raised alarm bells within the legal community, with many questioning whether the Justice Minister had violated legal protocols for personal or political gain.In response to the Justice Minister’s actions, civil society groups and legal experts quickly voiced their concern, accusing the Ministry of attempting to undermine the judiciary’s authority.
There was also speculation that the Justice Minister’s push to continue with the LTM’s operations might be motivated by personal or political interests, further deepening the controversy.On January 30, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an additional writ of prohibition, directly instructing the Justice Minister to cease any further dealings with the LTM regarding vehicle registration and licensing.
The Court also warned the Justice Minister that failure to comply with this order would result in contempt charges.This latest development has kindled a fierce debate within Liberia’s legal and political spheres.
On one hand, critics argue that the Justice Minister’s actions undermine the separation of powers and threaten the integrity of the legal system. On the other hand, some view the Minister’s push to streamline services as a necessary step in improving public sector efficiency.
The debate is further fueled by the looming threat of court contempt, raising the stakes for the justice minister and the government. raising
