A Monrovia City Court has ordered former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor to remain in custody after rejecting her legal team’s request for release on humanitarian grounds.
Stipendiary Magistrate Ben Barco issued the ruling on Wednesday. The court also signed an arrest warrant naming Howard-Taylor and three foreign nationals in connection with multiple charges.
Howard-Taylor, who served as vice president from 2018 to 2024, was detained on August 19 at Roberts International Airport while preparing to travel to Ghana. She was held at Liberia National Police headquarters.
During detention she suffered a medical emergency and was taken under police escort to the Gomez Institute of Medical Sciences. Her lawyers said the hospital visit did not end her custody.
What the prosecution alleges
According to the court writ, the case dates back to 2021. It claims that three men, Sheik Bashiru Kante, Taras Zadereiko and Mihovil Vrovac, conspired to move cocaine through Liberia for shipment to Europe. The document alleges that Kante introduced the other two to Howard-Taylor in 2022 while she was in office, and that the group later met at her Congo Town residence.
The writ further alleges that the foreign nationals invited her to Dubai to meet Nikola Ivancic, a Croatian national described as the head of the network. In Dubai, she allegedly received $45,000 from Ivancic for shopping, in front of the other three. After returning to Liberia, she allegedly requested and received an additional $75,000. Prosecutors say the group discussed using Liberia as a transit route for cocaine bound for Europe.
The Ministry of Justice says Howard-Taylor is charged under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act, the Penal Law, and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law. The three foreign nationals have been charged in absentia.
Defense response
Howard-Taylor’s legal team denies all allegations. They describe the case as baseless and politically motivated, and say they will contest the charges in court.
No evidence has been tested in court yet. Under Liberian law, Howard-Taylor is presumed innocent unless convicted.
The case is expected to resume in Monrovia City Court in the coming weeks.
