Counsel to the embattled leader of the
Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah,
have asked for a postponement of his sentencing by the Johannesburg High
Court.
The lawyers argued that the postponement was necessary to enable them get more witnesses.
On the 21st of January, the presiding judge, Justice Neels Claassen, found Mr. Okah guilty of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device and said the state proved Okah was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr. Claassen said Okah’s failure to testify meant evidence against him remained uncontested.
The sentence which could be a life jail was expected to be made on January 31st or February 1st.
The judge, however, gave Okah room for mitigation.
Mr. Okah likened his trial to a lynch mob because efforts he made to defend himself were allegedly frustrated by the Nigerian government just as state counsel, Mr. Shaun Abraham, dismissed this saying that Okah was given every opportunity to defend himself but failed.
Twelve people were killed and 36 injured in the car bombs on the first of October 2010, during Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. Mr. Okah was arrested in Johannesburg the following day.
He was also found guilty on terrorism charges relating to two explosions in March 2010 in Warri, Delta State.
The
embattled leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, who has been convicted on 13 counts of
terrorist activities
On the 21st of January, the presiding judge, Justice Neels Claassen, found Mr. Okah guilty of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device and said the state proved Okah was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr. Claassen said Okah’s failure to testify meant evidence against him remained uncontested.
The sentence which could be a life jail was expected to be made on January 31st or February 1st.
The judge, however, gave Okah room for mitigation.
Mr. Okah likened his trial to a lynch mob because efforts he made to defend himself were allegedly frustrated by the Nigerian government just as state counsel, Mr. Shaun Abraham, dismissed this saying that Okah was given every opportunity to defend himself but failed.
Twelve people were killed and 36 injured in the car bombs on the first of October 2010, during Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. Mr. Okah was arrested in Johannesburg the following day.
He was also found guilty on terrorism charges relating to two explosions in March 2010 in Warri, Delta State.
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