Okah Knows Fate 4 March 

A South African court Friday postponed by a month sentencing of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, who was convicted of 13 terrorism charges, including the 2010 independence day bombings in Abuja.

Henry Okah: Convicted

“I will postpone this matter for purposes of hearing arguments in mitigation or aggravation for sentencing,” High Court Judge Neels Claassen said.

Sentencing will run three days from February 28 through March 4.

“That’s the final postponement,” said the judge.

Okah was found guilty of masterminding attacks including twin car bombings 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.

He faces a minimum term of life in prison.

He intends to bring five witnesses from Nigeria and the United States.

But prosecution was opposed to the deferment.

“I am disappointed that the matter didn’t proceed today, it’s just basically justice being delayed,” Shaun Abrahams told reporters after the application was granted.

The 46-year-old, who has permanent residency in South Africa, was arrested at his Johannesburg home on October 2, 2010, a day after the twin car bombings that killed 12 people.

MEND, which in 2010 was a well-equipped armed group fighting for a greater share of the Delta oil wealth, claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place as the country celebrated the 50-year anniversary of its independence.

Okah has denied being the leader of MEND, and involvement in the Abuja blasts, claiming the charges were politically motivated.

MEND has a history of staging fierce attacks on oil facilities and kidnapping expatriate workers in the Delta region.

Okah is thought to be the first foreign national to be tried for terrorism in South Africa. He has been in custody since his arrest.

He was convicted on 21 January of 13 terrorism charges, including bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on Independence Day, 1 October, 2010.

“I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused,” said Judge Nels Claassen, handing down the verdict in the South Gauteng High Court.

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.

Okah’s travail started in 2008 when he was arrested in Angola and extradited to Nigeria, where he was accused of treason and terrorism; he was also linked to gunrunning scandal involving top government officials.

However, during his trial, it was alleged he was suffering from kidney ailment and charges against him were dropped. In 2009, Okah was also a beneficiary of the late President Yar’Adua administration initiated amnesty programme for ex-militants.

The government then thought the amnesty for militants would end unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

In 2010, about an hour before the Independence Day attacks, MEND issued a warning telling people to stay away from the independence celebrations at Eagle Square, Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. Just as the activities for the celebration were about to start, there were twin car bomb explosions which were targeted at people at the Eagle Square for the ceremony. Within five minutes, the third bomb exploded. A security officer was injured during the third explosion. But MEND denied involvement in the bomb explosions.

President Goodluck Jonathan also blamed a terrorist group for the bombings.

According to a statement from the Presidency, “investigations show that members of MEND have said they know nothing about the bombings.”

But the statement by the president was widely criticised by individuals, political opposition leaders and activists. Okah’s conviction has therefore justified the president’s critics.