South Africa court convicts Henry Okah over Abuja twin bombings

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, General Politics, Niger Delta, Top Stories Monday, January 21st, 2013

The alleged mastermind of the twin car bombings that killed 12
people in Abuja on October 1, 2010, Henry Okah, was on Monday
convicted of 13 terrorism charges by a South African court.

Okah was found guilty of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy
to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonating
an explosive device.

The South Africa-based Nigerian ex-militant leader, who has been
facing trials for complicity in the gruesome attacks on October 1,
2010 during the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence and
other related bomb attacks, was arrested in Johannesbur a day after
the incident in Abuja.

He was subsequently made to face the wrath of the law by the South
African prosecutors that summarily charged with terrorism.

Before handing down the verdict, the South Gauteng High Court,
Judge Neels Claassen, said the state proved Okah’s guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt, adding that the accused failure to testify meant
evidence against him remained uncontested.

He was therefore found guilty of masterminding attacks including twin
car bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on October 1, 2010 and
two explosions in March 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri,
a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a
group fighting for a greater share of the Delta oil wealth, claimed
responsibility for the attacks.

Okah denied involvement in the blasts and said the charges were
politically motivated. He also denied leading MEND, but had said he
sympathised with their goals.

However the South African court found Okah was the leader of the
movement after uncovering documentary evidence including his
wife’s handwritten notes.

South Africa has tried him as part of its international obligation, as
the Nigerian authorities had not applied for his extradition, according
to the prosecution.

According to eye witness account, shortly after the guilty verdict,
Okah was taken to the court holding cells under heavy police guard
after.
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