Nigerian, George Obi Alias “Original Japan” Sentenced To Life Imprison By Criminal Court “C”
PHOTO: Convicted drug dealer George Obi
In US$31, 625.00 or LD 6,077,370.00 Drug case
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The dragnet of Liberia’s criminal justice system has hooked one of the notorious drug traffickers/dealers in Liberia, a Nigerian national, George Obi, alia “Original Japan”, who was recently slapped with life imprisonment sentenced by the Criminal Court “C”.
Judge A. Blamo Dixon of the Criminal Court “C” recently sentenced George Obi, alias “Original Japan” to twenty years imprisonment while three of the defendants were sentenced to five years each.
The sentencing of defendant Obi and co-defendants was done March 11,2025.
Defendant Obi alias, “Original Japan” on January 14,2025, was adjudged guilty of the crimes of unlawful maintenance and distribution of controlled drugs or substances, while co-defendants Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okonkwo and Bridgestone Harris were adjudged guilty for the crime of Criminal conspiracy.
After they were adjudged guilty of the crimes, they filed a motion for New trial on January 31,2025 and said motion was argued pro and con and Judge Dixon denied for the reasons stated in prosecution resistant.
On March 6,2025, defendant George Obi alias Original Japan through his lawyer filed another motion to admit to bail for medical reasons. According to his lawyer, defendant Obi medical conditions cannot be handled by JFK but rather a specialized medical facility.
But prosecution dismissed the assertion made by defendant Obi that JFK is the Country’s highest medical facility that handles many medical conditions. Therefore, Obi should motion to admit to bail or compassionate leave should not be granted.
However, Judge Dixon denied defendant Obi medical treatment outside of the government facility for grounds stated by the prosecution.
However, a pre-sentencing report done by the probation division of the Ministry of Justice was read in court which stated that George Obi, alias Original Japan denied the allegations continuously.
The pre-sentence report also said, despite he doesn’t prior criminal record but security personnel believed he’s linked to the drug cartel.
Ministry of Justice probation report recommended that community dwellers told the probation officers that they don’t want George Obi alias Original Japan to live in their community even if the government decides to drop charges against because their children are dying from drugs.
After more than six months into the case, Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice presided over by its resident Judge A. Blamo Dixon has found George Obi alias original Japan guilty for crime of unlawful maintenance and distribution of controlled drug or substances.
Judge Dixon ruling acquitted co-defendant Sunday Udeh, Ivan Jamo, Ikwe David and Edwin Ozioko from further answering to the alleged crime of unlawful distribution and sale of controlled drugs or substances and criminal conspiracy.
According to Judge Dixon, the investigators at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency were absolutely correct to have charge co-defendant Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okorokwo and Bridgestone Harris with the alleged commission of the crimes of unlicensed sale and distribution of controlled drugs or substances and criminal conspiracy.
Judge Dixon added that the rationale is that co-defendant Mamah, Okorokwo and Harris were apprehended in the same room packaging the high substances and smoking marijuana according to evidence adduced in the case . He further that the LDEA investigators were correct to have charged Defendants Original Japan, Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okorokwo and Bridgestone Harris with criminal conspiracy and therefore, the court is also inclined to hold Mamah, Okorokwo and Harris along with Japan as charged by the Republic.
The Criminal Court C judge in his Tuesday January 28,2025, ruling said, the evidence adduced also revealed that co-defendant Sunday Udeh, Edwin Ozioko, Igwe David and Ivan Jamo were visitors who do not live in the compound of original Japan . On the other hand, co-defendants Sunday Udeh went to original Japan to negotiate for the purchase of a Toyota camary vehicle 2018 model. He Udeh offered do advance original JapanUS$3,000.00 to clear the vehicle from the Freeport of Monrovia.
Further, the ruling revealed that co-defendants Edwin Ozioko, Igwe David and Ivan Jamo went to the shop of original Japan to entertain themselves with drinks. Co-defendant Shelly Shelton served them with their respective drinks before original Japanarrived in the shop. Furthermore, Original Japan was called by co-defendant Shelley Shelton to leave from the spare parts shop in Clara town and original Japan arrived at the shop in Sayon town because Shelley he Japanthat she was sick and decided to to her residence.
In his ruling, Judge Dixon said, the LDEA investigators were absolutely correct to have charged Principal defendant George Obi alias originalJapan with the alleged commission of the crime of unlawful maintenance and distribution of controlled drug or substances. The rationale is that Japanis the sole owner of the compound that the controlled drugs or substances were confiscated from the officers of the LDEA.
The judge maintained that writ of search and seizure was directly directed at original Japan and his compound which was described in the warrant. The defense of Japan that the drugs were allegedly found in the apartments of his tenants cannot hold because drugs were also allegedly found in his own apartment according to three of the witnesses for the state. Japan knew or had reason to know that drugs were trafficked, transited and distributed from his compound. Therefore, the court is inclined to hold Japan as charged by the Republic.
Issue highlighted for determination of the case was whether or not the evidence in the case directly linked and connected chain to chain all of the eight defendants undergoing trial before the first judicial circuit, Criminal Court C Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia to draw a logical conclusion that said evidence adduced in the case warrant the conviction of all of the aforesaid eight defendants?
To answer the question above, Judge Dixon said, that evidence adduced in the case draws a logical conclusion that the principal defendant George Obi, alias original Japan and co-defendants Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okorokwo and Bridgestone Harris are the main prime suspects who are directly linked and connected chain to chain to the evidence adduced in the case to warrant their conviction for the alleged commission of the crimes of unlawful maintenance and distribution of controlled drugs or substances, unlicensed sale and distribution of controlled drugs or substances and criminal conspiracy.
Judge verdict revealed that evidence adduced in the case did not directly link and connect chain to chain all of the eight defendants undergoing trial before the first Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes C, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia to draw a logical conclusion that the said evidence adduced in the case warrant the conviction of all of the aforesaid eight defendants.
During the trial, prosecution paraded four general witnesses and three rebuttal witnesses while the defense paraded eight witnesses.
The defendants were indicted during the May 28 A.D 2024 term for the alleged crimes of unlawful maintenance and distribution of controlled drugs or substances, unlicensed sale and distribution of controlled drugs or substances and criminal conspiracy but he was arrested on February 21,2024.
Meanwhile, the clerk of court was order to address a communication to the probation service department at the Ministry of Justice to conduct pre-sentencing investigation about co-defendants George Obi,alias originalJapan, Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okorokwo and Bridgestone Harris whether or not they are first time offenders or Habitual offenders and submit a report to the court on or before Monday February 24,2025.