Photographs of Howard-Taylor with Obi Cubana, E-Money, and Kennedy Okonkwo and former Liberia’s Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor during their visit to Monrovia
By Victory Oghene
The social media has been abuzz with the photographs of the chairman of Cubana Group, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, and real estate entrepreneur Kennedy “Ned” Okonkwo with the embattled
former Liberian Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor who was accused of drug trafficking and money laundering.
Obi Cubana and Jewel Howard-Taylor
Reacting to the development on Sunday, Obi Cubana in a statement issued by the Cubana Group rejected attempts to link him to the recent drug trafficking and money laundering allegations levelled against Howard-Taylor.
Recall that 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 has prompted renewed attention on her previous political and business engagements, including a 2021 meeting with prominent Nigerian businessmen and socialites.
Photographs of Howard-Taylor with Obi Cubana, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, and real estate entrepreneur Kennedy “Ned” Okonkwo during a visit to Monrovia have since resurfaced on social media.
Obi Cubana visited Liberia in October 2021 as part of a trade and investment delegation exploring opportunities in tourism, real estate and other sectors.
Obi Cubana however dismissed attempts to connect the visit with the allegations currently facing Howard-Taylor.
He described the 2021 engagement as a “legitimate and openly conducted trade and investment mission” focused on exploring business opportunities and strengthening economic relations between Nigerian and Liberian businesses.
He added that the delegation was interested in possible investments in tourism, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, youth development and other areas.
Obi Cubana said the meeting with Howard-Taylor was neither secret nor unusual because she was the duly serving Vice-President of Liberia at the time and was actively involved in promoting investment opportunities in the country.
“The meeting was not hidden. Photographs from the engagement were publicly circulated, the purpose of the visit was publicly discussed, and the business and investment objectives of the delegation were reported in the media,” the group said.
The Cubana Group also pointed to comments made by Howard-Taylor herself in a May 2023 interview published by Global News Network Liberia.
During the interview, Howard-Taylor was asked about Obi Cubana’s visit and the controversy surrounding his alleged business discussions in Liberia.
She reportedly explained that Cubana travelled to Liberia as part of a broader trade mission involving individuals searching for business opportunities, particularly in the 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,” Howard-Taylor was quoted as saying.
She added that her role was to showcase Liberia’s investment opportunities and attract investors and legitimate partnerships that could contribute to the country’s economic development.
Obi Cubana said the account was consistent with contemporary reports about the delegation’s visit.
It also referenced a November 2021 report by Nigerian writer Hope Eghagha, which described an African Children’s Talent Discovery Foundation delegation hosted by Howard-Taylor.
The report named Kennedy Okonkwo, Obi Cubana, Kcee and E-Money among those who attended a corporate lunch with members of Liberia’s business community.
Discussions reportedly included proposals for the construction of a five-star hotel and investments in agriculture.
The Cubana Group said nothing in those reports established a connection between the Nigerian businessmen and the criminal allegations now facing Howard-Taylor.
It therefore described attempts to associate the 2021 meeting with the former vice-president’s current legal troubles as unfair and speculative.
“Chief (Dr.) Obinna Iyiegbu and the Cubana Group cannot reasonably be expected to have anticipated in 2021 allegations that would arise against a former public official in 2026,” the group said.
It added that simply meeting a public official during an official business or investment mission could not constitute evidence of involvement in that person’s subsequent activities.
“Attempting to create such an impression through photographs of a publicly acknowledged business meeting risks replacing facts with insinuation and guilt by association,” it said.
The group further stated that Obi Cubana and his business associates regularly engage government officials, investors, private-sector leaders and other stakeholders across different countries as part of their business activities.
It said such engagements were necessary for businesses seeking investment opportunities, partnerships and expansion across international markets.
