SOUTH AFRICA: Court denies bail for Nigerian Henry Okah, suspected of involvement in independence day bombings

Record ID: 234707

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Court denies bail for Nigerian Henry Okah, suspected of involvement in independence day bombings
  • Date: 20th November 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (NOVEMBER 19, 2010) (REUTERS) IMMIGRATION VAN BEING DRIVEN INTO COURT COMPOUND STATE PROSECUTOR ENTERING COURT EXTERIOR OF COURT SUSPECT HENRY OKAH LEANING FORWARD IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN INTO COURT COMPOUND MORE OF CARS DRIVING IN NATIONAL PROSECUTION AUTHORITY SPOKESPERSON, MTHUNZI MHAGA, ARRIVING AT COURT PEOPLE ENTERING COURT
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA60KM5KMQOQVZN5LBEVZUIP4G3
  • Story Text: A South African court on Friday (November 19) denied bail for Nigerian suspected militant leader Henry Okah who was arrested in connection with deadly car blasts in Abuja, the state prosecutor told Reuters.
    Okah was arrested in Johannesburg shortly after the blasts that killed at least 10 people during an October 1 parade to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigerian independence. Another four suspects have been arrested in Nigeria.
    South African police investigators said in an affidavit, read by a prosecutor at a bail hearing for Okah in a Johannesburg court, that he was "the mastermind" behind the blast but they could not reveal the evidence implicating Okah to protect their confidential sources.
    Okah, residing in South Africa and charged with conspiracy in the bombing, denied he had any involvement with the bomb acts.
    The attacks were claimed by Nigeria's main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
    Security experts believe Okah -- who accepted a government amnesty last year after gun-running and treason charges against him were dropped -- was at one time the brains behind MEND, although he has denied ever being its leader.
    Police searched Okah's home and found invoices for the purchase of thousands of submachine guns, rockets launchers and anti-aircraft machine guns, but did not find any firearms.
    They also found that Okah and his wife own about 10 properties in South Africa valued at over $1 million.
    In a separate affidavit, Nigeria's attorney general asked that Okah be denied bail.
    Okah said he was being used as a political pawn by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of an election.
    The bombs have brought regional rivalries in Africa's most populous nation to the top of the political agenda ahead of what was already set to be the most fiercely contested presidential race since the end of military rule a decade ago.
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