Published: March 12, 2025
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia –Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge A. Blamo Dixon has sentenced notorious drug dealer George Obi, alias “Original Japan”, to 20 years in prison for running an illicit drug operation. Three of his co-defendants—Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okonkwo, and Bridgestone Harris—were each handed five-year sentences.
The judgment, delivered on March 11, 2025, followed a lengthy legal battle that saw Obi and his co-accused desperately attempt to evade justice. Found guilty on January 14, 2025, Obi’s conviction came after overwhelming evidence linked him to a major drug operation that authorities believe has wreaked havoc on communities. His three co-defendants were convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection to the same case.
Following their convictions, the defendants filed a motion for a retrial on January 31, arguing for a fresh hearing. However, Judge Dixon denied the request, siding with the prosecution’s firm resistance to reopening the case.
In a last-ditch effort to escape incarceration, Obi filed another motion on March 6, seeking medical bail on claims that his condition required treatment at a specialized facility rather than the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK). The prosecution, however, dismissed his plea, emphasizing that JFK is Liberia’s top medical institution capable of handling a broad range of conditions. Judge Dixon subsequently denied Obi’s request for external medical treatment, reinforcing the state’s position that justice should not be compromised.
A pre-sentencing report from the Ministry of Justice painted a damning picture of Obi’s reputation in the community. Despite his lack of prior criminal records, law enforcement officials suspect he is deeply entrenched in Liberia’s drug cartel. Community members expressed strong opposition to his possible return, stating that their children had fallen victim to the deadly consequences of the drug trade.
After more than six months of legal proceedings, Judge Dixon ruled that the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) investigators acted appropriately in charging Obi and his co-defendants. The court found that Mamah, Okonkwo, and Harris were caught in the act, handling high-grade narcotics and smoking marijuana inside the premises linked to Obi’s operation.
The ruling also exonerated four other individuals—Sunday Udeh, Ivan Jamo, Ikwe David, and Edwin Ozioko—who were initially implicated but later found to have no direct involvement in the drug syndicate.
Judge Dixon underscored that Obi’s compound was at the heart of the drug operation, with controlled substances confiscated from his residence. The defense’s argument that the drugs were found in tenants’ apartments failed to sway the court, as multiple state witnesses confirmed that illicit substances were also discovered in Obi’s personal quarters.
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