By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled that the National Elections Commission (NEC) properly followed legal procedures in filing its appeal in a US$877,060 dispute with M-Tosh Prints Media Inc., paving the way for the case to proceed to full hearing.
Delivering the Court’s opinion, Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie stated that the NEC met all statutory requirements necessary to perfect its appeal following an adverse judgment issued by the Commercial Court.
“The records clearly show that the appellant complied with the legal requirements governing the filing and perfection of its appeal,” Justice Wolokolie noted, rejecting arguments that the appeal should be dismissed on procedural grounds.
The dispute originates from claims by M-Tosh Prints Media Inc., which alleges that it supplied election materials and kits used during the 2019 Montserrado County Senatorial election and a District #13 by-election. The company contends that despite delivering the materials, the NEC failed to fully settle payments owed, leaving an outstanding balance of approximately US$877,060.
Court documents indicate that the Commercial Court entered judgment against the NEC on December 31, 2025. However, the Supreme Court observed that the electoral body did not receive the written ruling until January 6, 2026, a key factor in determining whether the appeal timeline was properly observed.
Justice Wolokolie emphasized that once the judgment was officially received, the NEC acted within the required ten-day statutory period by filing its Bill of Exceptions and completing the necessary steps to perfect its appeal.
“The computation of time for purposes of appeal begins upon receipt of the judgment, and the appellant acted within the time allowed by law,” she explained in the ruling.
The Court also addressed procedural concerns raised in the motion to dismiss, affirming that an appeal bond may be approved by another judge when the trial judge is unavailable. This clarification effectively dismissed claims that the NEC’s appeal process was irregular or defective.
With those determinations, the Supreme Court denied the motion seeking to strike out the appeal and ordered that the matter proceed to full hearing, where the substantive issues of liability and payment will be examined.
The ruling, signed by Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, does not determine whether the NEC is indebted to M-Tosh Prints Media. Instead, it ensures that both parties will have the opportunity to fully argue their positions before the Court.
