Former Liberian VP’s Arrest Puts Spotlight on Obi Cubana, E-Money’s 2021 Visit
A 2021 business trip to Liberia involving Nigerian businessmen Obi Cubana, Ned Okonkwo and E-Money has resurfaced following the arrest of Liberia’s former vice-president.
Jewel Howard-Taylor was arrested on August 19, 2026, at Roberts International Airport while reportedly attempting to leave the country.
Liberian authorities subsequently charged the former vice-president with drug trafficking, money laundering and several other offences.
The charges reportedly relate to an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network operating across multiple countries.
The renewed attention follows the circulation of photographs showing Howard-Taylor meeting the Nigerian businessmen during their October 2021 visit.
The delegation travelled to Monrovia as part of a trade mission exploring investment opportunities across several sectors of Liberia’s economy.
Those sectors reportedly included tourism, real estate, education, energy and youth development.
Howard-Taylor hosted the delegation and facilitated meetings with members of Liberia’s business community during the visit.
The Nigerian delegation included Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, Emeka Okonkwo, known as E-Money, and real estate entrepreneur Kennedy “Ned” Okonkwo.
Reports published at the time described the trip as a trade and investment mission rather than a political engagement.
There is also no indication in the available accounts that the Nigerian businessmen were accused of involvement in Howard-Taylor’s alleged offences.
In a May 2023 interview with Global News Network Liberia, Howard-Taylor discussed Cubana’s visit and explained why the delegation travelled to Liberia.
“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.
Howard-Taylor said she welcomed the delegation because she wanted to promote Liberia’s investment opportunities to potential investors.
“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,” she added.
A November 2021 report by Nigerian writer Hope Eghagha also documented the delegation’s activities during the Liberia trip.
Eghagha identified Ned Okonkwo, Obi Cubana, Kcee and E-Money among members of an African Children’s Talent Discovery Foundation delegation.
The report said the group attended a corporate lunch with members of Liberia’s business community.
Discussions reportedly focused on potential investments, including a proposed five-star hotel and agricultural projects.
Photographs from the meeting were widely shared at the time and have now resurfaced following Howard-Taylor’s arrest.
Social media users have since revisited the photographs, with some questioning the circumstances surrounding the Nigerian businessmen’s visit.
One X user, Roy Biakpara, posted photographs from the meeting and highlighted the businessmen’s 2021 encounter with Howard-Taylor.
“Obi Cubana, Ned Okonkwo & E Money went to visit this same woman in late 2021 when she was Vice-President,” he wrote.
He described the trip as a purported trade mission involving discussions about potential investments in Liberia’s tourism sector.
Other users also reacted to the photographs, with some questioning the businessmen’s sources of income.
Others pointed out that the delegation’s visit had previously been publicly described as a legitimate business mission.
Howard-Taylor’s Arrest
Howard-Taylor’s arrest forms part of a broader investigation by Liberian authorities into an alleged international narcotics network.
Authorities said she was detained at Roberts International Airport while attempting to leave Liberia.
Three foreign nationals, including two Croatians and a Ukrainian, have also been charged in absentia over their alleged roles.
Liberian authorities said they would pursue the suspects’ arrests through domestic and international channels.
The government has separately announced the seizure of several tonnes of cocaine valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Authorities have stressed that the cocaine seizure is separate from the case involving Howard-Taylor.
Howard-Taylor served as Liberia’s vice-president under former President George Weah from 2018 until 2024.
She became politically prominent after the end of her former husband Charles Taylor’s presidency.
Charles Taylor served as Liberia’s president from 1997 to 2003 before being convicted by a UN-backed tribunal.
He was convicted for aiding and abetting rebels during Sierra Leone’s civil war.
Following Howard-Taylor’s arrest, Liberia’s government pledged to prosecute anyone found connected to the alleged narcotics network.
“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.
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