SOUTH AFRICA: Bail denied for Nigeria bomb suspect Henry Okah, facing conspiracy and terrorism charges

Record ID: 234722

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Bail denied for Nigeria bomb suspect Henry Okah, facing conspiracy and terrorism charges
  • Date: 20th November 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (NOVEMBER 19, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLE OUTSIDE COURT A NIGERIAN EMBASSY OFFICIAL LEAVING COURT STATE PROSECUTOR LEAVING COURT (RIGHT) AS RUDI KRAUSE, LAWYER OF SUSPECTED MILITANT HENRY OKAH, EXITING BUILDING (LEFT) CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUDI KRAUSE, LAWYER OF SUSPECTED MILITANT HENRY OKAH, SAYING: "The evidence presented in the course of the application was unconvincing to say the least. The magistrate at some stage, with all due respect to the magistrate, purported to act inquisitorially by allowing the prosecution to adduce new evidence. The defence was not necessarily afforded the same opportunity. At a certain stage when the very witnesses who are possessed of the evidence which the magistrate found the applicant not to have presented while in the witness stand, the magistrate declined cross examination on very important issues, so Mr. Okah has for some time, I can now say, entertained the perception that the magistrate was inclined to refuse him bail." IMMIGRATION VEHICLE LEAVING COURT
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA1IE4UA8V063WO6XPW1RQVHDQK
  • Story Text: Suspected Nigerian militant leader Henry Okah, who faces conspiracy and terrorism charges relating to car bombs in Nigeria that killed at least 10 people, was denied bail on Friday (November 19) by a South African court.
    The SAPA news agency quoted magistrate Hein Louw as saying Okah had failed to prove he had no links to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a militant group which claimed responsibility for the Oct. 1 blasts.
    Louw told court that the most implicating evidence against Okah was that in a letter written in her handwriting, the applicant's wife referred to him as being the leader of MEND.
    South African prosecutors and police said Okah was the mastermind of the bombings in the Nigerian capital during celebrations marking 50 years of independence last month.
    Okah, who is resident in South Africa and was arrested shortly after the blasts, denied any involvement.
    His lawyer, Krause said, said the defence team was treated unfairly.
    "The evidence presented in the course of the application was unconvincing to say the least. The magistrate at some stage, with all due respect to the magistrate, purported to act inquisitorially by allowing the prosecution to adduce new evidence. The defence was not necessarily afforded the same opportunity. At a certain stage when the very witnesses who are possessed of the evidence which the magistrate found the applicant not to have presented while in the witness stand, the magistrate declined cross examination on very important issues, so mister Okah has for some time, I can now say, entertained the perception that the magistrate was inclined to refuse him bail," Krause said.
    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.
    The case was adjourned until February 11, 2011 to allow further investigation.
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