Liberia: Nimba County Lawmaker Representative Samuel Kogar Ordered to Repay US$1,000 Alimony to Ex-Wife

Author: Berenice Mulubah

The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered that Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel Kogar must retroactively pay his ex-wife, Romatta Yoada Kogar, the original alimony amount of US$1,000.00 from the date of the last payment. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a financial payment ordered by the court from one spouse to another after divorce, intended to help maintain a similar standard of living. Referring to Civil Procedure Law, Rev. Code: 1.16.21, the court explained that certiorari is a special procedure used to review and correct decisions made by officials, boards, or agencies acting judicially, or to examine an intermediate or interlocutory judgment of a court. Section 9.3 of the Domestic Relations Law states that, in any case brought during the lifetime of both parties to annul a void marriage or obtain a divorce, the court may direct the husband to provide appropriate support for the wife during the litigation period, as the court deems just. The high court concluded that the trial court made an error by proceeding without a hearing on the bill of information to reduce Mr. Kogar's alimony. The judge's decision was based solely on the sheriff's reports without conducting a hearing into the matter. Representative Kogar, through his lawyers, filed a petition to reduce the temporary alimony from US$1,000.00 to US$200.00 and to determine if the chambers Justice's ruling that reversed the trial judge's decision is legally valid.