-By The Supreme Court
BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County, Liberia —The Supreme Court of Liberia has denied an appeal filed by the Security Expert Guard Agency of Liberia (SEGAL) and affirmed the 8th Judicial Circuit Court — a lower court’s ruling ordering the company to pay US$5,163,360 in benefits to 347 aggrieved and redundant employees in Nimba County.
The decision brings a major development in a labor dispute that has lasted for more than eight years, with affected workers repeatedly demanding compensation and enforcement of their employment-related benefits.
The 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Nimba County ruled in September 2025 in favor of the aggrieved employees, ordering SEGAL Management to pay approximately US$5.16 million to 347 of the 353 workers involved in the case.
The workers had sought redress over what they described as illegal redundancy and the failure of the company to provide their legally required benefits.
SEGAL Management, owned by Lofa County Senator Momo Cyrus, subsequently appealed the Circuit Court’s decision to the Supreme Court of Liberia — seeking to have the lower court’s judgment overturned.
However, the Supreme Court has now upheld the lower court’s ruling, paving the way for enforcement of the judgment and payment of the workers’ benefits.
On Monday, August 17, 2026, Assigned Presiding Judge Serena F. Garlawolu of the 8th Judicial Circuit Court delivered the Supreme Court’s mandate to the Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, directing that the lower court’s judgment be enforced against SEGAL Management.
Under the mandate, SEGAL is required to comply with the Circuit Court’s September 2025 judgment and pay US$5,163,360 to the legally recognized beneficiaries among the aggrieved employees.
Workers’ Benefits Calculated From 2017
The judgment relates to benefits calculated on the basis of a monthly income of US$155 per employee, beginning in 2017 and extending to the period covered by the court’s ruling.
The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of dignity, respect, fair treatment, and compliance with labor laws in employment relationships in Liberia.
The ruling also directs the Clerk of Court to issue a writ of execution against SEGAL Management to enforce the judgment and facilitate the collection and payment of the awarded benefits to the actual legal beneficiaries.
According to the court’s determination, the 347 beneficiaries comprise workers whose employment status was reviewed during the proceedings.
The employment status of the affected workers was categorized as follows: one person was transferred to Secure Car Rent Security Firm; 149 remain employed by SEGAL; 20 are deceased; 31 were dismissed; 73 were paid off; and 73 resigned.
The court further ruled that the benefits belonging to the 20 deceased workers may be collected by their relatives upon presentation of satisfactory proof of death, including an affidavit as required by the court.
Long-Running Dispute
The case has been one of the most protracted labor disputes involving private security workers in Nimba County.
For years, the aggrieved SEGAL employees have accused the company of failing to adequately compensate them following their redundancy and have repeatedly called for government and judicial intervention.
The workers have staged several public demonstrations to draw attention to their demands and pressure authorities to enforce the court’s decision.
Major demonstrations were reportedly recorded in 2024 and 2025, while tensions escalated in April 2026, when aggrieved workers staged a prominent protest that involved blocking ArcelorMittal-Liberia railway in Sanniquellie.
The demonstrations reflected growing frustration among the affected workers over the prolonged legal battle and delays in receiving their benefits.
Enforcement Now Expected
With the Supreme Court having denied SEGAL’s appeal and the mandate now delivered to the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, attention is expected to shift toward enforcement and the actual payment of the awarded benefits.
The court’s directive places the responsibility on SEGAL Management to comply with the judgment, while the Circuit Court is expected to use the appropriate legal mechanisms to ensure that the award reaches the recognized beneficiaries.
The ruling is also being viewed as a significant development in Liberia’s labor justice system, particularly for workers involved in long-running disputes over redundancy, termination, and employment benefits.
For the 347 affected workers and their families, the Supreme Court’s decision could mark the culmination of an eight-year legal struggle and open the way for them to finally receive the benefits they have been pursuing through the courts.
The case further underscores the importance of employers adhering to Liberia’s labor laws and honoring the rights and benefits of workers, while also demonstrating the role of the judiciary in resolving prolonged employment disputes.
