just heard it from aljazeera news that henry okah have been sentence to 24 years to life for killing 12 innocent people and injuring others on independence day in abuja

The Okah guy self fork up!

Instead of him to stay in nigeria and be arrested, he went to south Africa.
Had the court judgement been in nigeria, he would just bribe the judge to be discharged and acquitted. Or the worst, sentenced to 3years imprisonment. And When he comes back, the president will pardon him.

WAS THE JUDGEMENT PASSED IN nIGERIA OR sOUTH aFRICA? wHERE WILL HE SERVE THE JAIL TERM?

Tolexander: The Okah guy self fork up!

Instead of him to stay in nigeria and be arrested, he went to south Africa.
Had the court judgement been in nigeria, he would just bribe the judge to be discharged and acquitted. Or the worst, sentenced to 3years imprisonment. And When he comes back, the president will pardon him.

are u listening to yourself? SMH

Lemme sit back and watch how this plays out with the south african multinationals and MEND here in naija.

i am shock,

I did not follow this case online.. so i dont know much about the story. But did he claim he bomb this place. this is very bad.. people can not be violent or use bomb. this is wrong.

You can write if you upset with the govt or protest, using violent is wrong..

Zuma's goverment licking Naija's backside again.Zuma is weak,why did we waste our resources on this Henry OGA guy? Why did we use our judicial system in the first place,whats in for us? In South Africa his biggest crime was probably breaking imigration laws which we could have deported him back to his native country.We are not the Hague.Damn African politics.

Johannesburg - Nigerian Henry Okah was jailed for 24 years by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"Effectively, the accused [Okah] is therefore sentenced to 24 years imprisonment," Judge Neels Claassen said as he handed down sentence.

On 21 January, Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

Car bombs

The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on 1 October 2010, the anniversary of the country's independence.

The second bombing took place in Warri on 15 March 2010 at a post amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed and 11 seriously injured.

In both bombings, two car bombs went off minutes apart in both places. The cars were parked in close proximity to each other.

Claassen sentenced Okah to 12 years imprisonment for each of the bombings and 13 years for the threats made to the South African government after his arrest in October 2010.

The 13 years would run concurrently with the 24 years.

In January, during judgment Claassen said the State had proved Okah's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and his failure to testify meant the evidence against him remained uncontested.
Okah has denied any involvement, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated.

- SAPA


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/independence-day-bombing-henry-okah-jailed-24-years-news24

sometimes we focus so much on executive and legislative arm of govt that we forget our judiciary is contributing by no small means to the backwardness of this country. i wish the same hand of fellowship can be extended to okah cohorts and cronies, i wish the same is done to these politicians stealing us dry, not in anywhere else, but in nigeria. however, i think virgin birth of Jesus will be easier to accomplish than my wishes

na wa o....this is serious!

Henry!!! sentenced?
For a crime committed by Jonathan?

Justice can only be find outside Nigeria. Smh 4 9ja judiciary system

He's a victim of conspiracy.

Here is the letter his brother wrote to the Catholic Bishop Okogie.

CHARLES OKAH PRISON LETTERS
08/12/2012 22:46:00 THEWILL
Font size:

CHARLES OKAH

November 19, 2012

Charles T. Okah
Single Cell Block
Kuje Prison
Abuja, Nigeria.

His Eminence
Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie
c/o Catholic Church Secretariat
Lagos, Nigeria.

Your Eminence:

October 1 2010 Bomb Blast Setup and Government Double Standard

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I hope this letter meets you well. The reasons I choose to direct this letter to you are that I am a Catholic and you are an old boy of my alma mater, St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.

I write from Kuje Prison Abuja where two other Catholics and I have been languishing in solitary confinement for 2 years on trumped-up charges relating to the October 1, 2010 bomb attack claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

My name is Charles Tonbra Okah, aka Billy Bones. On October 16, 2010 my residence in Apapa GRA was invaded by operatives of the State Security Services on the warrant that I was the suspected spokesman for MEND using the pseudonym “Jomo Gbomo.” My eldest son, visiting from the United States where he attends the University of Kansas (KU) was also arrested.

At the SSS Headquarters Abuja where we were flown to blindfolded with our legs and hands bound, my ‘cooperation’ was solicited for something completely different to my surprise. My captors threw me a lifeline; offering me our freedom and a lucrative contract in exchange for false testimony against my younger brother Henry, who is resident in South Africa. I was to write a false statement claiming to have been told by Henry about the bomb plot and naming the following persons as his conspirators: Former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. I bluntly refused.

To maintain pressure on me, I was told that my son would be implicated in the bomb matter, my containers of legitimate imports then at the Tin Can Port would be impounded and my business destroyed. I still did not budge, tossing their lifeline back with royal disdain.

When they realized I was not going to connive in their scheme, they became formal and reverted to the main reason for my arrest. I was asked for the MEND password which I told them I did not know. They bound me in a chair, took off my trousers and clamped a device to my joystick. My legs were then put inside a basin of water. The device when turned on passed a high voltage of electricity to my body and I lost consciousness. This was on Monday October 18 at about 6pm. When I regained consciousness, I discovered I was at the National Hospital emergency room. I remember the doctors asking why I had trauma marks on my chest where the SSS doctor performed Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The SSS operatives were evasive in answering questions at the hospital. That night I was released and taken to rest for the night at the State House Clinic. That was the last time a torture was carried out on me.

My son was eventually released after Mr. Femi Falana visited in the company of my wife after a month of being denied access to a lawyer. However, my containers have been impounded up to date and my bank account frozen.

The SSS stopped asking about the MEND password after Jomo Gbomo made another statement while I was in their custody but refused to still let me go because I did not cooperate earlier with them. Meanwhile in the ongoing trial in South Africa, Henry is accused of being the same Jomo Gbomo by the same people who say I am JG.

Double Standard in Kuje Prison:

On December 24, 2010 we were remanded in Kuje prison as a result of our application to be removed from the SSS detention cell. Unknown to us, the SSS passed instructions from “above” to the prison authorities to carry out “special treatment” in order to stampede us into a trial towards conviction. For 2 years we have been locked up in solitary confinement, are not allowed to exercise or get sunlight outside and are forced to sleep on the floor when bunk beds are available. Even a court order by Justice Gabriel Kolawole to the prison for a change in our confinement style was ignored after it was superseded by an ‘order from above.”

In late 2011, while locked up inside our cell block, prison officials clothed in protective apparel, face masks and gloves carried out fumigation without opening us to wait outside. Our protests fell on deaf ears and by the time they were finished we were in distress. The Youth Corper doctor on call tried her best within her limits to the emergency she was confronted with. The poisonous gas and barbaric action reminiscent of the Nazi concentration camp infamous gas chambers, eventually led to the death of one Francis Osuwo, aka Gboko, also roped into this case by the SSS and a man I have never met before. Interestingly, the four persons in detention were strangers to each other except for one Obi Nwabueze who is a family friend and close associate of Henry.

The fumigant whose chemical constituent were never relayed to us have affected my neurological system and I have been on a daily prescription of strong neurological medication prescribed by a neurologist of the National Hospital, Professor Bwala.

While the Boko Haram suspects at Kuje prison are allowed to worship in the prison mosque, we have never set foot in the prison chapel. They are also enjoying privileges such as cable television, radio, liberty to move within the prison walls, bunk beds to sleep on and phone calls to their families. We are denied all of the above.
When I asked the current Controller of FCT Command the reason for the disparity, he said “the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom.” He further said the Moslem community was concerned about their welfare in custody.

Double Standard in the Court:

Even in the Courts where justice is supposed to be blind, the double standard is glaring. While Senator Ndume, accused of being a financier to Boko Haram was given bail by the same Judge presiding over our case, we have been denied bail.

I understand that this Senator was permitted by the same court to travel on his religious obligation to Mecca for the lesser Hajj while we are refused from attending mass in a chapel less than 50 meters from our cell block.

The court is willing to permit the Senator approval to travel abroad for his medical check if he can provide proof that such check up is not done locally. Meanwhile, I have been denied my application to go on a compulsory checkup which in my case is mandatory for a kidney donor, having donated my left kidney to my mother 30 years ago.

Our cases have been adjourned repeatedly for cruelly long durations. The last time I appeared in court was March 2012 and the next adjourned date is January 31. 2013, that is if that date will not be shifted again under a flimsy excuse.

All we ask is for a free and fair justice from an independent Judiciary that should release us instead of holding us as scapegoats over an obvious power show. While this government continues holding us hostage, our families are becoming destitute.

Our rights to freely worship as Catholics is being infringed by the state who have more respect for Islam when all religions should be treated equally.

Double Standards in the Polity:

The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) was quoted as saying that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has the phone numbers of suspected Boko Haram sponsors. Later the Inspector General of Police said certain individuals had been put on a “watch list” as suspected Boko Haram sponsors.

Now the big question is why did the government not simply have our phone numbers and put us also on its ‘watch list” while we move about freely? They did not hesitate to arrest us, clamp us on trumped-up charges and detain us on flimsy excuses. They did not merely talk, they took action even in South Africa where my brother was arrested since 2010. Is there a better word to describe this other than hypocrisy?

The same government eager to negotiate with Boko Haram who claimed responsibility for over 100 attacks where Catholics have suffered the brunt, have refused to negotiate with MEND and continue to delude themselves that all is well.

Why would this government expect Boko Haram to unmask it leaders and negotiate when they can see that perceived leaders and supporters of MEND are being persecuted and jailed?

I welcome a fact-finding visit from the Church in the company of credible Human Rights groups to verify our allegations.

On the two occasions Kuje Prison was visited by the Bishop of Abuja during the Christmas of 2010 and 2011, he was surreptitiously steered away from where were we are held hostage and I believe he has no idea of what is going in inside Kuje prison.

Our prayers is that leaders of our Churches will be more sensitive and proactive in politics of the land that touches the lifes of their followers and not leave delicate issues solely in the hands of corrupt and selfish politicians, and majority of the population rid of a “Potiphar” mentality who believe lies when told by SSS.

May God save our beloved country.

Yours Sincerely,

Charles T. Okah

CC: Pope Benedict, Vatican, Rome
Catholic Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Abuja FCT


“I…was…sick…and in prison, and you visited me.”
-Mathew 25. 35, 36

http://thewillnigeria.com/opinion/17471.html

I'm not geting this case. He was already found guilty in Nigeria, why is he being retried in S.A again?

A neat and convenient outcome that is fully aligned with the interests of certain powerful forces in Nigeria.

Have we been told the full story? Hell no!

Ok

If he is truly guilty, 24yrs isn't enough time

Next...

Good... Could SA help naija try those executive thieves in power?...

backtosender: Just heard it from aljazeera news that henry okah HAS been SENTENCED to 24 years to life for killing 12 innocent people and injuring others on THE independence day in Abuja

better now!

I thought Ebele said MEND was not responsible for the Abuja October 1st bombings

President Jonathan, while reacting to the bomb attacks, had said: “Let me also use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that what happened yesterday (October 1) had nothing, I have to repeat, had nothing to do with the Niger Delta. People just used the name of MEND to camouflage criminality and terrorism.”

He said the online “release purported to have been issued by MEND attributing the blasts to the lack of attention to the Niger Delta, is not tenable because this is the first time that somebody from the Niger Delta has the opportunity to even be the President of this country for about four months, so whatever your grievances is and you have your own here, you should have some hope. Good things do not happen overnight.”

https://www.nairaland.com/530249/jonathans-new-explanation-abuja-bomb


Government magic
South Africa outsourced justice

eGuerrilla: A neat and convenient outcome that is fully aligned with the interests of certain powerful forces in Nigeria.

Have we been told the full story? Hell no!

So spot on
Okah is just a high profile victim of Ijaw dog eat dog politics

RICHIE BOI:
are u listening to yourself? SMH

Unfortunately, he speaks the truth. I doubt if the punitive measures would have been as much as he described if Okah were to be in Nigeria. Its just what it is. . . . a really crazy nation!

Henry Okah should have joined BH group instead he remain an INDEPENDENT BOMBER

Na wa! I can't even talk

God don catch am finally.

Which way Nigeria?

Henry oakh!but I told u to b wary of uncle joe.
U can't toy with d president power.
Anyway,I will pay u a visit wen nx am go to SA

RSA: Zuma's goverment licking Naija's backside again.Zuma is weak,why did we waste our resources on this Henry OGA guy? Why did we use our judicial system in the first place,whats in for us? In South Africa his biggest crime was probably breaking imigration laws which we could have deported him back to his native country.We are not the Hague.Damn African politics.

Boetie, cool down. Henry is a South African Passport Holder and not just a PR holder.Besides the fact the guy have Intel info on gun running within SADC and west africa countries to which some top ANC officials are involved.Henry is a big fish.

.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/independence-day-bombing-henry-okah-jailed-24-years-news24.....1 OF THE SOURCES

[size=15pt]NOT BAD... IF HE WAS TRIED IN NIGERIA THeY WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM SKIP JAIL AND PARDONed HIM..24 YEARS PLUS HIS CURRENT AGE OWULD BE SO KOOL[/size]

24 years? ? I stayed in a cell just one night and nearly died