TAPPITA CITY, Nimba County — Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. has warned judicial workers against turning courts into money-making enterprises, saying court staff are paid by the government and must not solicit fees from people seeking justice.
By D Franklin Doloquee
Speaking to local officials, judges, court staff and community members at the ground breaking ceremony of a modern magistrate court in Tappita City, Nimba County, Chief Justice Gbeisay pointed out that the judiciary exists to serve the public not to enrich individuals.
“Do not treat the court as a business. The judiciary is a public trust. No one may extract money from the people in the name of court business,” he stated.
Since taking office, the Chief Justice said he has dismissed nine judiciary workers for corruption and introduced judicial monitors who inspect court operations to prevent corrupt practices.
“I can employ and dismiss people who are involved in corruption,” he added.
On violence, the Chief Justice informed residents of Tappita and surrounding areas that destroying government property including police stations is counterproductive.
He said such actions undermine funding from the government and development partners and vowed to prosecute suspects.
“Destroying government properties is not helping; it harms the funding that supports services,” he asserted.
Chief Justice Gbeisay urged Tappita residents to “take possession” of the new modern magistrate’s court that is expected to be built and to participate in its upkeep.
The new courthouse, funded at an estimated cost of US$150,000 is expected to replace a smaller, less-equipped facility and to expand access to justice for residents of Tappita and towns and villages across Lower Nimba County.
He disclosed that the building should be completed within six months. “This court exists to serve justice not to enrich individuals,” the Chief Justice said.
He described the new courthouse as “a place of law and dignity” that belongs to the people and urged citizens not to remove materials or otherwise steal from the project.
Chief Justice Gbeisay announced tighter oversight of court activity, including daily monitoring and the formation of a committee to review records and operations regularly to ensure compliance with judicial rules and ethical standards.
He warned that anyone regardless of rank who demands payments, solicits bribes or uses their position for personal gain would face strict consequences. “When misconduct is found, discipline will follow,” he intoned.
He also cautioned against internal abuses such as gatekeeping and illicit demands tied to employment or services. “Payroll covers routine duties and staff on the government payroll must not demand additional fees,” he intimated.
“Those who think they can ignore rules because of position or culture will be reminded that this institution belongs to the community. We are all owners of justice; no one can become a millionaire at the expense of the public.”
Framing the courtroom as a sanctuary for fair dispute resolution, the Chief Justice urged citizens who receive court papers to respect the legal process rather than response with insults or refusal.
“Bring your case before the bench and present your reasons to the court. Respect the process and the judges who administer it,” he said.
Several community leaders at the event applauded the Chief Justice’s pledge of accountability, calling the new building both a symbolic and practical opportunity to rebuild trust.
Some court staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed cautious optimism, noting that effective enforcement will be key to changing long-standing practices.
Over the next six months, the judiciary will prepare the courthouse for a formal commissioning and begin routine inspections when it opens.
Officials said they will publish details about the oversight committee’s membership and its inspection schedule. Chief Justice Gbeisay closed his address with a call to collective responsibility.
“We will teach, we will correct and we will serve,” he urged everyone in Tappita to join in protecting the courts from being turned into instruments of private profit.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono publicly thanked President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung for their leadership, saying a recent wave of projects has put the county on an “irreversible path of development.”
Supt. Gono also applauded government support for the Tappita Vocational Institute and other improvements to local justice infrastructure. The magistrate court, she said, has seen construction accelerated and is expected to be completed within six months.
“We said Nimba County is on an irreversible path of development,” Supt. Gono told a crowd of local officials, community leaders and residents gathered for the ceremony.
“Nimba will no longer sleep,” she pledged to split her time between Lower and Upper Nimba working “extensively” from both locations to ensure services and projects reach the entire county.
Supt. Gono described the new magistrate court as a crucial investment that will make court and police services more accessible for remote communities.
Until now, she said, detainees and litigants have faced long, risky journeys to Sanniquellie for hearings and police processing.
Those delays have imposed heavy burdens on families and in some tragic instances, led to fatalities among people traveling by motorbike to access justice.
“This is major for us,” she said, recalling the hardships experienced by residents forced to travel long distances for basic judicial services.
She thanked the Chief Justice and regional judges for working “tirelessly” to strengthen the county’s justice system and foster harmony by resolving disputes at the local level.
Supt. Gono also highlighted land and property disputes as a continuing priority. She said she serves on a committee working directly with the President and Vice President to resolve counterclaims and other significant land disagreements that have strained communities across the county.
Officials at the ceremony outlined complementary projects designed to improve access and service delivery: the vocational institute aimed at providing practical skills and training for young people in Tappita and targeted upgrades to police stations and court facilities to reduce backlogs and shorten case processing times.
Supt. Gono closed by thanking the people of Nimba County and judicial partners for their support and partnership in advancing development and peace.
