The alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast,
Charles Okah, on Wednesday closed his case after presenting six
witness in his trial for alleged terrorist attack.
Mr. Okah and Nwabueze Obi were charged with the offence by the
State Security Service, SSS.
The charges followed a bomb blast that disrupted Nigeria’s
Independence Day activities at the Eagle Square in Abuja attended
by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The SSS accused Mr. Okah of being behind the bomb blast, which
killed over a dozen people and wounded many. His elder brother,
Henry, is in prison in South Africa after being convicted of
terrorism.
The SSS had also accused the defendants of treasonable offences,
stressing that the attack was targeted at former President
Jonathan.
The terrorism charge was, however, struck out by Justice Gabriel
Kolawole who ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case of
treasonable offences against the defendants.
The court, however, agreed with the submission of the
prosecution that the defendants were linked to funds used for the
purpose of terrorism.
The defendants had made a no-case-submission after the
prosecution closed its case in January but were compelled to
present their witnesses after the court decided that they have a
case to answer.
After presenting their last witness, counsel to the second
defendant, O. O. Etim, informed the court that the defence had
closed their case.
Subsequently the court adjourned the matter till January 24 for
counsel to submit their written addresses before final
determination of the matter.
Mr. Okah is a younger brother to Henry Okah, leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND. The elder
Okah was convicted in South Africa for terrorism-related
offences.
The alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast,
Charles Okah, on Wednesday closed his case after presenting six
witness in his trial for alleged terrorist attack.
Mr. Okah and Nwabueze Obi were charged with the offence by the
State Security Service, SSS.
The charges followed a bomb blast that disrupted Nigeria’s
Independence Day activities at the Eagle Square in Abuja attended
by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The SSS accused Mr. Okah of being behind the bomb blast, which
killed over a dozen people and wounded many. His elder brother,
Henry, is in prison in South Africa after being convicted of
terrorism.
The SSS had also accused the defendants of treasonable offences,
stressing that the attack was targeted at former President
Jonathan.
The terrorism charge was, however, struck out by Justice Gabriel
Kolawole who ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case of
treasonable offences against the defendants.
The court, however, agreed with the submission of the
prosecution that the defendants were linked to funds used for the
purpose of terrorism.
The defendants had made a no-case-submission after the
prosecution closed its case in January but were compelled to
present their witnesses after the court decided that they have a
case to answer.
After presenting their last witness, counsel to the second
defendant, O. O. Etim, informed the court that the defence had
closed their case.
Subsequently the court adjourned the matter till January 24 for
counsel to submit their written addresses before final
determination of the matter.
Mr. Okah is a younger brother to Henry Okah, leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND. The elder
Okah was convicted in South Africa for terrorism-related
offences.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/2010-independence-day-explosion-okah-closes-case/