Judge On Threats, Warns Against Public Pressure
By Abraham K. Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
KAKATA, Margibi County, Liberia- The 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County has concluded a fresh selection of a 15-member sequestered jury in the US$317 million cocaine trial, and remanded six prospective jurors to Kakata Central Prison for 14 days each after finding them in criminal contempt.
The action was taken Thursday, August 13, 2026, during the first jury selection exercise presided over by newly assigned Circuit Court Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie. The exercise follows the discharge of the previous jury panel during the May 2026 Term over allegations of interference.
Kakata is 72 kilometers from the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, he Liberian government through the country’s Joint Security Task Force raided a residence along the Monrovia-Robertsfield highway and seized cocaine estimated at US$317 million, making it the biggest ever narcotic drug bust in this post-war West African county. Liberia Justice Min. Says “Investigation Shows “An Organized, Sophisticated, Complex And Well-Funded Narcotics Trafficking Network” – News Public Trust
6 Prospective Jurors Jailed For Contempt
In his ruling, Judge Willie held six prospective jurors in contempt and ordered them remanded for 14 days.
Five of the jurors were charged with criminal contempt. The sixth was charged with impersonation.
The prospective jurors including Mary P. Johnson, Samuel Karr, Aaron Kesselle, Z. Emerson Paye, Ebenezer N. Karwala, while Dauda K. Bafaie were charged for impersonating.
The contempt ruling came after Judge Willie had vowed to insulate the high-profile drug trial from outside influence.
“We Will Not Repeat The Mistake”
The newly empaneled jury will hear the case involving defendants Toni Obi, Henry Ike and others, arising from the July 21, 2026 raid by the Joint Security Task Force on a residence along in the VOA community on the Monrovia-Robertsfield Highway. The Liberian government has described the seizure — estimated at US$317 million — as the largest narcotics bust in post-war Liberia.
Justice Minister has since called the operation evidence of “an organized, sophisticated, complex and well-funded narcotics trafficking network.”
Judge Willie, who announced the August 13 jury selection date during the court’s ceremonial opening on August 10,2026, said the integrity of the proceedings must be protected at all costs.
“These cases cannot be tried without a jury, especially sequestered jurors,” Judge Willie declared. “In order not to repeat the mistake of last term, where the drug case was tried without sequestered jurors and was tampered with, we must proceed differently.”
He said evidence from the May 2026 term indicated jurors had been tampered with, forcing the discharge of that panel. The decision to sequester, he noted, is grounded in Article 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution and Section 12 of the Jury Manual, both aimed at preventing juror influence through “public pressure, threats, persuasion or bribery.”
The 13the Judicial Circuit Court Judge said he has coordinated with the Juror Manager and Court Administrator to keep the selected jurors away from outside contact for the duration of the trial.
Hotel To Be Used For Sequestration
The 13th Judicial Circuit has no dedicated facility for sequestering jurors.
“Since there is no sequestration room for the 13th Judicial Circuit of Margibi County, the Judiciary must locate a hotel in Kakata and hire caterers for the purpose of sequestrating the trial jurors, who are judges of the facts,” Judge Willie explained.
The Court Administrator has assured the bench that arrangements will be made ahead of the substantive trial, which is expected to begin following the completion of jury selection.
The defendants face charges including unlicensed possession and importation of controlled drugs, criminal conspiracy, forgery, misapplication of entrusted property, theft of property and illicit trafficking.
Judge on Threats, Warns Against Public Pressure
In his opening remarks, Judge Willie cautioned judicial officers to resist public opinion and decide cases solely on law and fact.
“Our job does not call for a popularity contest or public clamour,” he said. “Some decisions you will take in consonance with the law, many people will not like you for that. Your only satisfaction should and must be that you applied the laws to the facts accordingly.”
Willie made a startling disclosure that he has survived five attempts on his life due to previous rulings, including an attack at his residence on June 25, 2025.
“Notwithstanding these threats to make me twist the facts and the laws, I have not wavered to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails,” he stated.
Prison Overcrowding, Case Backlog Also Highlighted
The judge also flagged severe overcrowding at Kakata Central Prison. A court report shows the facility, with a capacity of 60, currently holds 197 inmates.
Of those, 63 are under Circuit Court jurisdiction. Only 3 have been indicted, leaving 60 pretrial detainees. Some have spent between 2 and 11 terms in detention without trial.
Citing Section 18.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law and Article 14(3)(c) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Willie warned that prolonged detention without trial “may amount to a violation of fundamental rights.”