MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling by ordering the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Diamond Dealer Association to return the 58.34 carat diamond to two licensed miners, after an attempt to steal the stones from the miners in Gbarpolu County.
In its judgement on August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Montserrado County, known as the Civil Law Court, against the government ministry.
The Court’s judgement was triggered by an appeal filed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Diamond Dealers Association, after they lost the matter before the lower court at the Civil Law Court following a petition from David Sluward and Abraham Kamara, holders of a Class “C” Mining License in Gbarma Statutory District, Gbarpolu County were not license holders as provided for by law.
Reading the Court’s opinion, retired Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyeneh Yuoh ruled that the Constitution vests all mineral resources in the government, but added that these rights can be legally transferred through licenses issued by the same government.
The Court noted that Sluward and Kamara had submitted a timely renewal application for the Class “C” licenses on March 17, 2022, before their expiration on May 25, 2025, which was renewed by the government on April 28, 2023.
The Court further said,” Under the Mining and Minerals Law of Liberia, once a renewal application is filed within the prescribed time, no mineral right can be reassigned, and that the two miners’ renewal was valid and, therefore, it was unlawful for the government to claim automatic return of the diamond to themselves”.
The Court has mandated the Minister of Mines and Energy and the Diamond Dealers Association to return the diamond to David Sluward and Abraham Kamara, or pay them the fair market value of a diamond.
The current Liberian government inherited this matter from the Weah administration, which attempted to steal the 58.34-carat diamond from the miners in Gbarpolu County in 2022.
In another development, internal wrangling within the United Methodist Church appears to be far from over, as the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church has filed a petition before the Civil Law Court against the National Leadership of the UMC, represented by its Bishop Samuel Quire.
The petitioner’s application to the Court seeks legal clarity on a key provision surrounding the definition of marriage, church doctrine, and leadership structure.
The Church lawyer, Atty. Jeremiah Dugbo wants the Court to declare and affirm the statutory definition of marriage under Liberian law, as a civil union strictly between a man and a woman, consistent with Chapter 43, Section 43.2 of the Civil Procedure Law.
Atty. Dugbo argued that legal uncertainties now exist over rights and practices contrary to Liberia’s law defining marriage and sexual conduct.
The Church lawyer now seeks a legal declaration from the Court to prevent what they term as doctrinal overreach by the National Leadership of the UMC, and to reinforce the standing of its leadership and congregation.
The petitioner’s request to the Court will compel Civil Law Court Presiding Judge George Smith to issue a Writ of Summons for the current Bishop of the United Methodist Church in a couple of days.