Full Text: On July 21, 2025, social media user Titus B. Pakalah claimed that George Obi, commonly known as "Original Japan," a convicted drug trafficker, filed a motion for medical leave backed by a surety of landed properties valued at US$22,000.
George Obi, a Nigerian national known as "Original Japan," was arrested in February 2024 following a raid by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) at his Sayon Town residence on Bushrod Island. Authorities seized over 1,450 grams of illegal drugs including heroin, kush, marijuana, and tramadol with an estimated street value exceeding US$31,000.
In January 2025, Obi and three associates—Peter Mamah, Ndubusi Okonkwo, and Bridgestone Harris—were convicted by the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court 'C'. Judge A. Blamo Dixon sentenced Obi to 20 years in prison in March 2025 for operating a major drug trafficking ring. His three co-defendants each received five-year sentences for criminal conspiracy. Three others—Edwin Ozioko, Igwe David, and Sunday Udeh—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
During trial, the Ministry of Justice characterized Obi as a high-level trafficker with connections to Liberia's drug cartels, supported by community testimonies regarding the social impact of his activities.
On April 23, 2025, Counselor Williams M. Johnson of the Public Defender's Office filed a writ of certiorari before the Supreme Court of Liberia, challenging Criminal Court 'C's decision to deny Obi's motion for bail on medical grounds. The petition argued that Obi suffered serious health complications, supported by a medical report from John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, and alleged that the prison system could not provide necessary specialist care.
The defense maintained that Obi's conviction was unjust, claiming the drugs were found in a tenant's apartment within his compound rather than in his direct possession.
Verification: To verify the claim, The Stage Media visited Criminal Court 'C' at the Temple of Justice, where Judge Joe S. Barkon currently presides. A comprehensive review of court filings revealed no motion referencing a surety of landed properties valued at US$22,000 related to Obi's medical bail request as mentioned by Titus.
TSM contacted Counselor James Moore Williams, Obi's legal counsel from the Public Defender's Office, who provided crucial clarification. Williams confirmed that no motion for medical leave or bail was filed on behalf of his client as described in the social media claim.
According to Williams, the defense filed a motion for a writ of certiorari before the Justice in Chambers at the Supreme Court in April. The motion's purpose was not to seek medical leave or facilitate travel abroad, but to notify the court of Obi's serious medical condition requiring specialized examination unavailable at JFK Medical Center.
A writ of certiorari is a legal order issued by a higher court to review the decisions and proceedings of a lower court. It requires the lower court to deliver its record in a case for examination, allowing the higher court to determine if there were any irregularities in the legal process.
"Prior to Japan's conviction and sentencing, the defense repeatedly requested medical treatment based on doctor recommendations, but the Ministry of Justice refused, and the trial judge ignored the issue," Williams explained. "We escalated the matter to the Supreme Court as a result."
The Justice in Chambers subsequently ordered that Obi be taken to a hospital for treatment within Liberia. While the application mentioned that medical bail could be considered if the state refused hospital access, this was not the motion's primary focus or intent.
Williams emphasized that the defense's objective was securing proper medical care, not pursuing bail or facilitating any attempt to flee the country.
Conclusion: The claim that "Original Japan" filed a motion for medical leave backed by a surety of landed properties valued at US$22,000 is misleading.
Court records reviewed by The Stage Media show no evidence of such a filing. The legal action taken by the defense was a petition for a writ of certiorari to inform the Supreme Court of Obi's medical condition and seek specialized treatment within Liberia—not to request bail or medical leave abroad.
The suggestion that the motion was a tactic to facilitate flight from the country lacks factual basis and misrepresents both the content and intent of the legal proceedings.
