Court adjourns over Okah’s plea to mitigate sentence

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Niger Delta Friday, February 1st, 2013

Justice Neels Claassen of Johannesburg High Court in South Africa has adjourned the pleading for mitigation of sentence in Henry Okah’s trial to February 28.

Claassens gave the ruling after a further appeal by Okah’s counsel for adjourment of the case to allow all the witnesses to make their plea for mitigation of sentence on Okah convicted on January 21.

The judge said the adjourment would be the final to allow all the witnesses called by Okah to testify in the pleading for mitigation of sentence to ensure that justice is done.

“I will grant you this request for the last time. I’m granting you three days from February 28, March 1 and March 4 to call all your witnesses to testify in mitigation or aggravation of sentence.

“You have to ensure that all your witnesses appear in court in those three days, and if for any reason, any of the witnesses fails to appear, the court will go ahead with the pronouncement of the sentence.

“I cannot entertain any further delay in this trial due to the nature of the case and its security implication to South Africa and Nigeria governments,” Claassen said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that Okah’s attorney requested for the adjourment of hearing for mitigation of sentence to enable him produce in court all witnesses willing to testify on behalf of Okah.

The adjourment is also to allow Okah to engage with the Nigerian government in the peace process in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

It will be recalled that Okah, a fractional leader of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), was convicted on January 21 by Justice Claassen.

Okah was found guilty on 13-count charge of conspiracy to commit terrorism by masterminding two car bomb attacks in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on October 1, 2010.

South Africa judiciary system, like most systems allows convicted persons to plead for mitigation of sentence before the trial judge makes a pronouncement of the sentence.wp_posts