Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – Following the purported scrapping and sale of heavy-duty mining equipment worth US$2.5 million in Bomi County, British investor Hans Armstrong appears to be ready to file a US$10 million lawsuit against Liberia’s Ministry of Justice, accusing it of harassment, abuse of the legal system, and failure to protect his property rights.
Armstrong’s legal team claimed in a draft complaint that the Ministry carried out an “unsubstantiated and procedurally improper” investigation to absolve Administrative Officer Alphonso Sherman and Bomi County Superintendent Miatta Dorley of any criminal responsibility pertaining to the contested equipment.
Assistant Minister for Litigation Cllr.Jerry D.K. Garlawolu is anticipated to be accused in the lawsuit, according to the records. Cllr. Garlawolu, Jerry D.K., and Bomi County Attorney Cllr. Pato Jarba documented for allegedly failing to protect court-recognized property, failing to uphold Armstrong’s legally recognized ownership of the machinery, and participating in what the investor claims is a campaign of criminal harassment.
Armstrong’s lawyers claim that during a meeting at the Ministry of Justice on November 7, 2025, Superintendent Dorley claimed that the machinery belonged to the Liberian government and that she had assumed custody of it on the government’s behalf. The complaint alleged that although Assistant Minister Garlawolu had previously represented Armstrong’s interests in proceedings before Criminal Court “C,” he failed to contest the statement. The legal team argues, however, that his silence amounted to an implicit endorsement of Dorley’s assertion.
Additionally, despite allegedly speaking with Armstrong about the issue multiple times, the complaint claims that County Attorney Jarba denied knowing about Sherman’s prior arrest during the meeting. Jarba had the chance to stop the machinery from being sold and dismantled, according to Armstrong’s attorneys. The Ministry’s actions, according to the legal team, resulted in substantial financial losses, harm to Armstrong’s reputation, interruption of his investing activity, and mental suffering. Punitive, special, and general damages of US$10 million are therefore sought in the action.
Additionally, according to court documents referenced in the case, on August 12, 2022, Criminal Court “C” declared that Armstrong was the legitimate owner of the mining equipment in Sackie Township, Bomi County, and that the equipment was worth about US$2.5 million. On June 23, 2023, a Bill of Information filed by locals contesting that ruling was rejected, thereby reiterating Armstrong’s ownership.
Armstrong’s lawyers claim the equipment was thereafter targeted for scrapping in spite of such decisions. According to reports, Superintendent Dorley was given instructions by the Clerk of Criminal Court “C” on April 7, 2025, to revoke a stay order that had prohibited Armstrong from removing the equipment.
But in a letter two days later, Administrative Officer Sherman purportedly stated that Judge Ciapha Carey of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, not the Superintendent’s office, was the source of the stay order. Sherman’s declaration, according to Armstrong’s legal team, is in conflict with two previous letters he wrote, one of which told Judge Carey that persons were disassembling the equipment while a court order was still in force and another of which ordered people to cease dismantling the equipment.
The complaint also alleges that, despite not having any ownership documentation, Sherman later marketed the equipment for sale through the National Scrap Dealers Association of Liberia. Sherman was allegedly charged by the Liberia National Police after the event, and the case was sent to the Tubmanburg City Court. Additionally, according to Armstrong’s attorneys, Sherman went to the investor’s home to talk about the situation and was given court documents attesting to Armstrong’s ownership in addition to US$100, which Armstrong claims was a token of gratitude.
Superintendent Dorley allegedly complained to Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh about Armstrong’s alleged persistent harassment of Bomi County people during the Justice Ministry conferences on October 25, 2025. In an attempt to settle the conflict peacefully and prevent legal action, the Ministry then invited Armstrong to discuss matters on November 15 and December 11, 2025. However, Armstrong’s legal team argues that the Ministry’s letters were part of an intimidation campaign against their client and had an accusing tone.
