Court Orders Seizure of Liberia Airport Authority Assets Over $40K Debt Monrovia, Liberia – April 1, 2025 The Debt Court for Montserrado County has ordered the seizure of assets belonging to the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) after the institution failed to settle a US$40,200 court judgment in favor of the heirs of the late Florence C. Mends Cole. The decision follows an Action of Debt lawsuit filed by Sahru Joine Mends Cole and Think Jenkie Mends Cole, who represent the intestate estate of the late Florence C. Mends Cole. The heirs, represented by Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull, had sought legal recourse to recover the unpaid funds. A Writ of Execution, issued on March 27, 2025, instructs court bailiff Emmanuel C.

Bowen to seize and expose for sale all assets and interests of the LAA, including those under the control of Acting Managing Director Gerald Mends Cole and his deputies at the institution’s headquarters in Unification Town, Lower Margibi County.

The writ further authorizes the arrest of LAA officials should assets be insufficient to cover the judgment. It cites Liberian law (1LCLR, page 235 – Section 44.39), which grants the court authority to seize properties or detain individuals to satisfy legal debts

The enforcement of the debt judgment raises serious financial and operational concerns for the LAA, which has already faced scrutiny over power outages and management challenges at Roberts International Airport (RIA). If the seizure proceeds, it could disrupt airport operations and further strain the institution’s credibility.

As of now, the LAA has not issued an official response to the court’s order.