By Amos Harris
The dream of graduating with his classmates has turned into what Richard Gbai describes as a painful struggle for justice. The former student of JJ Roberts United Methodist School claims that a serious eye injury, allegedly inflicted by a school administrator, permanently changed the course of his life.
While hundreds of students proudly celebrated their 2025 graduation, Gbai said he spent the day reflecting on what he believes was a future taken away from him. The life-altering incident occurred during a student election on December 18, 2024. According to Gbai, he was allegedly struck in his left eye with a wooden stick by the school’s Dean of Students, Dolo Mulbah, leaving him with permanent damage to his eyesight.
Gbai, who attended JJ Roberts United Methodist School from kindergarten all the way through the 12th grade, explained that the injury forced him to abandon his graduation plans. Today, the damage requires him to wear prescription glasses and severely limits his ability to carry out normal daily activities.
Speaking about the deep emotional toll of the incident, Gbai shared that watching his peers move on without him was heartbreaking. “While many of my classmates are celebrating their graduation with joy and pride, I am left in tears. Instead of celebrating my achievement, I am fighting to rebuild my life,” he stated.
The case has raised serious concerns across Liberia about student safety and accountability within educational institutions. Many observers are now questioning whether enough measures are in place to protect students from alleged violence by school authorities.
Seeking justice, Gbai has filed a US$500,000 civil lawsuit against the school, arguing that the alleged assault has caused permanent physical, emotional, and educational harm. Attorneys representing JJ Roberts United Methodist School have maintained that the institution has cooperated with the judicial process and conducted its own internal investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the legal battle took a significant turn on Friday, July 3, 2026, when the court rejected several motions filed by the defense that sought to delay the proceedings. The defense initially requested that the matter be heard without a jury, but Judge Peabody denied the application. A subsequent request to postpone the trial was also rejected, allowing jury selection to proceed. The jurors were sworn in, and the trial officially commenced.
Gbai became the first witness to testify, presenting documentary evidence before the court in support of his claims. However, as defense lawyers prepared to begin their cross-examination, they requested another postponement. This time, the court granted the request and adjourned the proceedings.
The jury trial is expected to resume on Monday, when the defense will begin cross-examining Gbai. The outcome of the case is expected to draw significant public attention, as it could deeply influence future discussions on student protection, school discipline, and institutional accountability in Liberia’s education sector.
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