Monrovia, Liberia – Famous drug dealer George Obi, also known as “Original Japan,” was given a 20-year jail term by Criminal Court “C” Judge A. Blamo Dixon for operating an illegal narcotics organization. Bridgestone Harris, Ndubusi Okonkwo, and Peter Mamah, three of his co-defendants, were all given five-year terms.
The verdict, which was handed down on March 11, 2025, came after a protracted court case in which Obi and his co-accused made valiant attempts to avoid punishment. On January 14, 2025, Obi was found guilty after a resounding body of evidence connected him to a significant narcotics enterprise that officials say has caused terrible harm to communities. The same case resulted in the conviction of his three co-defendants for criminal conspiracy.
The defendants argued for a new hearing in their January 31 demand for a retrial after their convictions. Judge Dixon, however, turned down the request, supporting the prosecution’s adamant opposition to reopening the case.
On January 31, after being found guilty, the defendants moved for a new trial, arguing for a new trial. Judge Dixon rejected the plea, however, expressing support for the prosecution’s adamant opposition to restarting the case.
On March 6, in a final attempt to avoid jail time, Obi submitted a second application for medical bail, arguing that his illness necessitated care at a specialty institution rather than the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK). His appeal was rejected by the prosecution, who emphasized that JFK is the best medical facility in Liberia and can treat a wide variety of illnesses. Judge Dixon later rejected Obi’s plea for outside medical care, reaffirming the state’s insistence that justice must always come first.
The Ministry of Justice’s pre-sentencing report presented a negative image of Obi’s standing in the community. Police believe he is well-established in Liberia’s narcotics gang, even though he has no past criminal history. His potential return was strongly opposed by the community, who said that their children had been exposed to the devastating effects of the drug trade.
Judge Dixon decided that the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) detectives had behaved properly in prosecuting Obi and his co-defendants following almost six months of court hearings. In the premises connected to Obi’s business, Mamah, Okonkwo, and Harris were found to have been caught in the act of handling high-grade drugs and smoking marijuana.
Four additional people who were first accused but were shown to have no direct connection to the drug syndicate Sunday Udeh, Ivan Jamo, Ikwe David, and Edwin Ozioko were also cleared by the verdict.
Judge Dixon emphasized that Obi’s property was the focal point of the narcotics enterprise, and his home was seized of banned drugs. The court rejected the defense’s claim that the narcotics were found in the flats of the tenants since many state witnesses spoke to the fact that illegal substances were also located in Obi’s personal belongings.
Reported by:G Bennie Bravo Johnson, I.
