OCTOBER 1 BOMBING: A-COURT GIVES FG NOD TO TRY CHARLES OKAH AND OTHERS

Charles Okah

ABUJA – The Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, Mongay, gave the Federal Government the nod to prosecute Charles Okah, and three others, accused of planting the bomb blast that killed 12 persons while Nigeria celebrated its jubilee anniversary on October 1, 2010.

The two other accused persons okayed for trial by the appellate court Monday were Edmund Ebiware and Obi Nwabueze.It would be recalled that one of their alleged accomplice, Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo (a.k.a General Gbokos), died in his detention cell at Kuje prison, Abuja, on March 3.

The accused person had gone before the appellate court to challenge the refusal of trial justice Gabriel Kolawole, to quash the terrorism charge that was preferred against them by the federal government, for want of either a prima-facie nexus or sustainable proof of evidence linking them to the crime.

They equally pleaded the higher court to invoke its powers and release them on bail pending the determination of the case against them, a request that was rejected by the appellate court yesterday.

Consequently, all the accused persons were ordered to return to the Federal High Court on May 28 to continue their trial.

Charles, who is younger brother to the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, was apprehended by the States Security Service, SSS, on allegation that he and the other accused persons, conspired with one Emmanuel Allison and made direct attempt at endangering the life of President Goodluck Jonathan by seeking to drive two motor vehicles wired with time-regulated explosive devices to the Eagle Square where the Independence celebration was taking place.

They were also said to have between January 2 and March 15, 2010, within Port-Harcourt Rivers State and diverse places, conspired with Henry Okah, Chima Orlu, (at large), and persons unknown and made direct attempt to endanger the lives of the Governor of Delta state, Edo state and Imo state by seeking to drive two motors vehicles wired with time regulated explosive devices into government house annex, Warri, Delta State, the venue of the Vanguard Post Amnesty Dialogue, where the said governors were in attendance, in order to cause a bomb blast for the purpose of levying war against the state.

The accused persons were initially arraigned before the High Court on December 7, 2010 and subsequently re-arraigned on January 12, 2011.


By Ikechukwu Nnochiri