MONROVIA, Liberia – The Debt Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia has ordered the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to pay US$415,327.08 to EL-TEL Network, the Swedish engineering firm that supplied electrical materials to the utility.
The order, signed by Judge James E. Jones, directs LEC to make immediate payment to the Sheriff of the Debt Court for Montserrado County, warning that failure to comply will result in enforcement through a Writ of Execution.
The payment order was officially issued under the court seal on February 4, 2025, by Hoses Nelson, Assistant Clerk of Court.
The debt stems from a 2016 supply contract under which EL-TEL Network provided low-voltage electrical materials used in power distribution systems, control rooms, lighting infrastructure, and security networks.
The dispute has been ongoing for nearly a decade, with both parties filing claims and counterclaims over unpaid invoices and contractual obligations.
Court records indicate that LEC initially acknowledged a debt of US$364,322. The total liability rose to US$415,327.08 after the addition of statutory interest, legal fees, and court costs.
The breakdown includes: US$21,859.32 in interest at six percent per annum
US$7,286.44 in attorney’s fees
US$21,859.32 in court costs
During the hearing on February 3, 2026, LEC reportedly proposed making a 25 percent down payment of US$103,831.77. However, LEC lawyers did not file a motion for a formal payment plan as previously discussed with EL-TEL Network. This prompted EL-TEL’s legal team to request a payment order, which the court immediately granted, enforcing the full judgment.
According to the court document, LEC is instructed:
“Upon receipt of this payment order, you are hereby ordered, and instructed to make immediate payment to the Sheriff of the Debt Court for Montserrado County, the full amount of US$415,327.08… Failure to make payment of the said amount will compel this Court to enforce its Judgment by Writ of Execution.”
The Debt Court’s ruling underscores the court’s authority to enforce financial judgments against public institutions and highlights ongoing challenges in Liberia’s utility sector regarding the supplier.
