By Lincoln G. Peters
KAKATA, Margibi County, August 10, 2026 – Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the selection of a 15-member sequestered jury to hear a high-profile case linked to the US$317 million cocaine seizure in Lower Margibi County, citing concerns over alleged jury tampering during an earlier proceeding.
Judge Willie, recently assigned to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata, on Monday scheduled Thursday, August 13, for jury selection, insisting that the case must be heard by a properly constituted and sequestered jury to protect the integrity of the trial.
The case is among several high-profile criminal matters before the Margibi Circuit Court.
“We wish to state herein that these cases can’t be tried without a jury, especially sequestered jurors, and in order not to repeat the mistake of last term, where the drug case was tried without sequestered jurors and was tampered with,” Judge Willie said.
He disclosed that discussions have already been held with the Juror Manager and Court Administrator on arrangements to isolate selected jurors from outside contact during the proceedings.
Judge Willie said the case involving defendants Toni Obi, Henry Ike and others was previously heard during the May 2026 Term of Court, but the proceedings were disrupted following evidence suggesting interference with members of the jury.
“It is our understanding that this case was being tried during the last Term of Court, that is, the May Term A.D. 2026, but the jurors had to be discharged because there was evidence that they were tampered with,” he said.
The defendants face multiple allegations, including unlicensed possession and importation of controlled drugs or substances, illicit trafficking, criminal conspiracy, forgery, misapplication of entrusted property and theft of property.
Judge Willie cited Article 21(h) of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which guarantees an accused person the right to a jury trial, as well as provisions of the Jury Manual governing the sequestration of jurors.
“The purpose of this provision is to avoid accidental or deliberate tainting,” Willie said.
He explained that keeping jurors sequestered during the trial is intended to limit their exposure to external influences, including public pressure, threats, persuasion or bribery.
The judge’s decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of Liberia’s judicial handling of major criminal cases, particularly following allegations of jury interference in previous proceedings.
The US$317 million cocaine case stems from the seizure of thousands of packages of suspected cocaine from properties in the Duazon area of Lower Margibi County, one of the largest narcotics seizures reported in Liberia.
With jury selection set for Thursday, the court is expected to put in place measures restricting contact between the selected jurors and outside parties for the duration of the trial.
