Ex-Liberian VP Jewel Howard-Taylor’s 2021 Meeting With Nigerian Socialites Obi Cubana, E-Money, Ned Okonkwo Resurfaces After Drug Trafficking Charges

Former Liberian Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who has been charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and other offences in connection with an alleged transnational narcotics network, hosted Nigerian businessmen and socialites Obi Cubana, E-Money and Kennedy “Ned” Okonkwo on a trade and investment mission in Monrovia in 2021.

Howard-Taylor was arrested on August 19, 2026, while attempting to leave Liberia through Roberts International Airport and was subsequently charged with offences including the unlicensed importation, sale, distribution and transportation of controlled substances, drug trafficking, criminal solicitation, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Her arrest and the charges have prompted renewed scrutiny on social media of her past political and business associations, including her 2021 meeting with the Nigerian delegation comprising Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, Emeka Okonkwo, known as E-Money, and real estate entrepreneur Kennedy “Ned” Okonkwo, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks Limited.

The Nigerian socialites visited Monrovia in October 2021 as part of a trade mission that explored investment opportunities in Liberia, including real estate, tourism and other sectors.

Contemporary reports described the delegation as a broader Nigerian trade mission invited by Howard-Taylor to explore investment opportunities in sectors including energy, education, youth development and real estate. Howard-Taylor also convened meetings between members of the delegation and Liberians involved in trade and commerce to discuss possible investment opportunities.

In a May 19, 2023 interview published by Global News Network Liberia (GNN Liberia) and conducted by Michael Adeboboye, then-Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor was specifically questioned about the controversy involving Nigerian businessman Obi Cubana and Sheik Bassirou Kante.

The interviewer referenced a May 10, 2022 report by FrontPageAfrica, which said Cubana had visited Liberia and held discussions with Howard-Taylor about a possible business partnership.

Responding, Howard-Taylor said Cubana’s visit was part of a broader trade mission involving people seeking business opportunities in Liberia’s tourism sector.

“As it relates to Business Tycoon Obi Cubana, he came to Liberia for the first time as mentioned in search of business opportunities in the tourism sector. He was a delegate on a trade mission with many others who had similar ideas,” she said.

“As one of the voices for showcasing Liberia’s many opportunities, I met the delegation and afforded them a chance to see Liberia as a great investment opportunity. I believe any patriotic citizen will take advantage to showcase their nation, try to attract investors and seek good and legitimate partnerships which will help Liberia’s economy expand.”

The account is also consistent with a November 2021 report by Nigerian writer Hope Eghagha, which described an African Children’s Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF) delegation to Liberia hosted by Howard-Taylor.

Eghagha specifically named Kennedy Okonkwo, Obi Cubana, Kcee and E-Money among those who attended a corporate lunch with members of Liberia’s business community. According to the account, discussions included proposals to build a five-star hotel and invest in agriculture.

Photographs from the meeting were widely circulated on social media at the time, showing the Nigerian businessmen with Howard-Taylor.

The meeting has now resurfaced on X and Facebook following Howard-Taylor’s arrest, with some users revisiting the delegation’s visit and describing it as a “legitimate trade mission.”

An X user, Roy Biakpara, who shared photographs from the meeting, wrote:

“Obi Cubana, Ned Okonkwo & E Money went to visit this same woman in late 2021 when she was Vice-President. Purportedly on a trade mission, discussing potential investments such as in tourism. She later confirmed hosting that same “delegation” to promote business opportunities.

“1 and 1 could be 2 or 11. The choice is yours.

“Me #ImWalkingAway.”

Another X user, Udeabor Chimezie, wrote: “It keeps getting messier.”

DEMON (@OlaYinkaDem) wrote: “I know their occupation nah that sources of income I want know.”

Nzesam (@MrSam_UJ) said, “What do you all think this (sic) men do for a living? Na them hustle pass or get business idea pass. Lo.”

Howard-Taylor’s Drug Charges

The development comes amid a major crackdown by Liberian authorities on cocaine trafficking.

According to the Liberian government, Howard-Taylor’s charges form part of an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network. She was detained after being stopped at Roberts International Airport as she attempted to leave the country.

Authorities have also charged three foreign nationals, two Croatians and a Ukrainian, in absentia over their alleged roles in the network and said they would pursue their arrest through domestic and international channels.

The charges followed Liberia’s seizure of several tonnes of cocaine worth hundreds of millions of dollars, although authorities have said the drug seizure and Howard-Taylor’s case are not connected.

Howard-Taylor served as Liberia’s vice-president under former President George Weah from 2018 to 2024.

She entered politics after her former husband, Charles Taylor, left power. Charles Taylor, a former rebel leader, was elected Liberia’s president in 1997 and remained in office until 2003.

He was later arrested and convicted by a UN-backed court of aiding and abetting rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the country’s 1991–2002 civil war, in which about 50,000 people died.

Howard-Taylor later became George Weah’s running mate and served as his deputy throughout his presidency.

The Liberian government has vowed to pursue everyone allegedly involved in the narcotics network, saying:

“No office is too high, no political connection is too powerful, no nationality provides immunity, and no individual is beyond the reach of the law,” it said in a statement.

According to a recent BBC report, West Africa has increasingly emerged as a major transit route for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe, with criminal networks exploiting porous borders and weaknesses in enforcement across parts of the region.