Court Orders NOCAL’s Dennis, Jallah Arrested if They Try to Leave Liberia

Published: September 11, 2026

MONROVIA — Suspended National Oil Company of Liberia President and Chief Executive Officer Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis and the company’s financial comptroller, Richmond Jallah, can be arrested if they attempt to leave the country and jailed if they cannot post bail, under a writ Criminal Court ‘C’ issued Thursday, six months after the same judge threw out the corruption indictment against them.

By Melvin Jackson

The writ of ne exeat republica, signed by Judge Ousman F. Feika, commands the sheriff of Montserrado County or a deputy to arrest Dennis and Jallah if they attempt to leave Liberia’s territorial jurisdiction and bring them before the court. If either cannot provide bail approved by the court, the order says, they may be committed to the Common Jail of Montserrado County until the required bail and security are filed.

Feika issued it after an application alleged the two were “about to leave the bailiwick of the Republic of Liberia to foreign parts,” according to the writ.

The same judge dismissed the indictment against Dennis and Jallah in March and, in July, denied the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s motion to rescind that dismissal. The dismissal was granted without prejudice, leaving the state free to bring the charges again.

The writ lists economic sabotage, misuse of public money or property, theft or illegal disbursement or expenditure of public money, tampering with public records, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, criminal attempt, and violations of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission and Public Financial Management laws.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suspended Dennis in February 2025 pending the conclusion of the LACC investigation into her management of NOCAL. She was later indicted alongside Jallah in a case involving the company’s corporate social responsibility funds and procurement transactions.

The writ is not a finding of guilt and does not establish that either has committed an offense. Both remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise.