Published: February 5, 2026
Monrovia — The Debt Court for Montserrado County has ordered the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to immediately pay a total of US$415,327.08 to Swedish engineering firm ELTEL Network, in a long-running contractual dispute dating back to 2016.
The court’s order stems from a principal judgment amount of US$364,322, which increased after statutory interest, legal fees, and court costs were applied.
Interest, Legal Fees Push Total Liability Above US$415,000
According to the court, LEC’s total liability now stands at US$415,327.08. The amount includes US$21,859.32 in interest calculated at six percent per annum, US$7,286.44 in attorney’s fees, and US$21,859.32 in court costs.
The order was issued following a hearing on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, during which the court instructed LEC to pay the full amount without delay.
LEC’s Attempted Down Payment Fails to Materialize
Before the court’s decision, LEC reportedly proposed making a 25 percent down payment, estimated at US$103,831.77, as part of a payment arrangement. However, the corporation’s lawyers reportedly failed to file a motion for a structured payment plan, as had been discussed with ELTEL Network.
This lapse opened the door for ELTEL Network’s legal team to petition the court for a payment order, which was granted immediately.
Court Warns of Execution If LEC Fails to Pay
A payment order dated February 4, signed by Assistant Clerk Hoses Nelson, instructed LEC to pay the full judgment amount to the Sheriff of the Debt Court for Montserrado County.
“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,” the order states.
The court further warned that failure to comply would trigger enforcement action.
“His Honor Judge James Jones further directs that your failure to make payment of the said amount, this Court will have no other alternative but to enforce its Judgment by Writ of Execution,” the order adds.
The document also directed the Sheriff of the court to make official returns on the manner in which the payment order was served.
Dispute Traced to 2016 Supply Contract
The judgment debt is linked to a 2016 supply contract under which ELTEL Network provided LEC with low-voltage (LV) electrical materials. These materials are commonly used in power distribution systems, control rooms, lighting infrastructure, and security networks.
Court records indicate the dispute has lasted nearly a decade, with both parties advancing claims and
counterclaims concerning the materials supplied under the agreement.
Court filings also show that ELTEL Network reportedly made repeated attempts to settle the matter amicably. Between 2019 and 2020, the company is said to have offered to accept US$360,000 as full payment, effectively waiving more than US$74,000 in outstanding claims.
According to ELTEL, those settlement proposals were not answered.
In a letter dated January 1, 2020, addressed to LEC’s former Chief Executive Officer—believed to be Monie Captan—ELTEL said it was following up on earlier commitments by the corporation to settle the debt. The company maintained that after receiving no response, it was left with no option but to pursue legal action.
The court’s decision places LEC under increased financial pressure and has sparked criticism over how the case was handled. Observers say the judgment could have implications for the corporation’s finances and potentially its operations, especially as LEC continues to manage broader challenges in the power sector.
Discussion about this post