The Justice in Chambers of the Supreme Court, Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie, on Monday after hearing arguments between the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) and Orange-Liberia, mandated the LTA to halt the surcharge being imposed on Orange Liberia until the Full Bench of the Supreme Court makes a decision into the case. Orange Liberia sued LTA for imposing new regulations on the mobile operator.
The case originated from the Civil Law Court, Criminal Court “B”, presided over by Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar, where Orange Liberia had taken LTA for imposing surcharges on the three-day free calls promotion.
At the time, Judge Dunbar denied the petitioner’s appeal and sustained LTA’s position. The stay order against LTA’s additional surcharge was then lifted, and the entity was ordered to enforce and implement the order. The judged ruled against Orange Liberia.
Feeling dissatisfied with Judge Dunbar’s ruling, Orange Liberia took to the Supreme Court an appeal, seeking redress. The mobile operator complained about the halting of the three-day free calls promotion, which caused the company to lose huge revenue and many customers, to the extent that it had to lay off some of its employees.
While Orange Liberia’s appeal was before the Supreme Court, LTA went ahead and enforced its surcharge fee. Orange Liberia went back to court with a writ of prohibition, calling the LTA to order.
Meanwhile, Justice Wolokolie has halted the LTA surcharge, pending the hearing of Orange Liberia’s petition for prohibition.
The LTA would now have to wait for days or months to hear whether or not the Supreme Court would allow them to enforce its surcharge fee.