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Tag: Charles Okah

  • ‘I am dying slowly with one kidney’, says bomb blast convict Okah

    THE man convicted of masterminding the 2010 Independence Day anniversary in Abuja, Charles Okah, claims he is dying slowly in prison owning to lack of access to medical treatment.

    Okah who is currently confined in the Maiduguri prison says he has been living with a kidney in the last 37 years but his condition is deteriorating in prison.

    He wants the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed to either transfer him to Abuja or Lagos for better care.

    Okah was jailed for life with his co-defendant, Obi Nwabueze, for masterminding the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on October 1, 2010 and, earlier in Warri, Delta State, on March 15 of the same year in a court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

    The two convicts were said to have conspired with Henry Okah, who was the leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

    Henry was jailed by a South African court in 2013 for similar offences and sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment.

    The conviction is currently before the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Suspects in Edo prison bomb plot held

    But Okah said he is almost losing the only kidney left with him.

    His plea was contained in a September 3, 2019 letter to the Comptroller-General by his counsel, C. A. Mishael.

    Mishael said “We are solicitor to Mr. Charles Tombra Okah (our client) who is presently under your custody at the Maximum Security Prisons. Borno State. His conviction by Federal High Court Abuja is currently the subject of appeal at the Court of Appeal. Abuja.

    “Our client has been living on a single kidney for the past 37 years and this fact, without gainsaying, makes it imperative for constant medical attention which he has not been getting at the Maiduguri Maximum Prisons.

    “While he was being held at the Kuje Prisons, he had access to medical experts at the National Hospital Abuja.

    “More recently, our client has been experiencing uncontrolled hand tremor and has been passing blood in his urine. He also has developed other ailments that require urgent and expert medical review.

    “The Maximum Security Prison in Maiduguri Borno State, where he is presently being held lacks both the expertise and facilities to treat our client of the kidney related ailments and other health challenges he is currently facing.

    “We therefore apply that the controller in Maiduguri be directed to grant our client permission to attend a medical facility that has the facility to adequately treat him.

    “In the alternative, we apply that our client be transferred back to Abuja or Lagos Prisons from where he can have access to proper medical treatment.

    “While we anticipate your usual cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest consideration.”

  • ‘I am dying slowly with one kidney’, says bomb blast convict Okah

    THE man convicted of masterminding the 2010 Independence Day anniversary in Abuja, Charles Okah, claims he is dying slowly in prison owning to lack of access to medical treatment.

    Okah who is currently confined in the Maiduguri prison says he has been living with a kidney in the last 37 years but his condition is deteriorating in prison.

    He wants the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed to either transfer him to Abuja or Lagos for better care.

    Okah was jailed for life with his co-defendant, Obi Nwabueze, for masterminding the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on October 1, 2010 and, earlier in Warri, Delta State, on March 15 of the same year in a court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

    The two convicts were said to have conspired with Henry Okah, who was the leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

    Henry was jailed by a South African court in 2013 for similar offences and sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment.

    The conviction is currently before the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Suspects in Edo prison bomb plot held

    But Okah said he is almost losing the only kidney left with him.

    His plea was contained in a September 3, 2019 letter to the Comptroller-General by his counsel, C. A. Mishael.

    Mishael said “We are solicitor to Mr. Charles Tombra Okah (our client) who is presently under your custody at the Maximum Security Prisons. Borno State. His conviction by Federal High Court Abuja is currently the subject of appeal at the Court of Appeal. Abuja.

    “Our client has been living on a single kidney for the past 37 years and this fact, without gainsaying, makes it imperative for constant medical attention which he has not been getting at the Maiduguri Maximum Prisons.

    “While he was being held at the Kuje Prisons, he had access to medical experts at the National Hospital Abuja.

    “More recently, our client has been experiencing uncontrolled hand tremor and has been passing blood in his urine. He also has developed other ailments that require urgent and expert medical review.

    “The Maximum Security Prison in Maiduguri Borno State, where he is presently being held lacks both the expertise and facilities to treat our client of the kidney related ailments and other health challenges he is currently facing.

    “We therefore apply that the controller in Maiduguri be directed to grant our client permission to attend a medical facility that has the facility to adequately treat him.

    “In the alternative, we apply that our client be transferred back to Abuja or Lagos Prisons from where he can have access to proper medical treatment.

    “While we anticipate your usual cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest consideration.”

  • Independence Day bombing: Okah, Nwabueze get life imprisonment

    Independence Day bombing: Okah, Nwabueze get life imprisonment

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, sentenced Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze to life imprisonment for masterminding the Oct. 1, 2010 Independence Day bombing near Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole handed down the sentence while delivering judgment in the five counts of terrorism charge preferred against the duo by the Federal Government.

    The Judge held that the prosecution, through the plethora of exhibits tendered and witnesses called, was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts.

    “I find the defendants guilty as charged and they are accordingly convicted,”Kolawole said.

    The judge said having handed down a life sentence earlier in 2013 to Edmund Ebiware, who had initially stood trial with the convicts; he could not give a lighter sentence to Okah and Nwabueze.

    He said that it was necessary for the maximum sentence to be given in order to ensure that justice was served in the eyes of families of those who died or sustained injuries.

    The judgeo noted that the judiciary could not be aloof to the increasing wave of kidnapping and acts of terrorism, citing the recent abduction of the 110 school girls from Dapchi in Yobe.

    Counsel to Okah and Nwabueze, Emeka Okoroafor and Oghenovo Otemu had prayed the court to show the convicts mercy, owing to the fact that they were first time offenders.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Alex Iziyon, (SAN), however, asked the court to give the convicts the maximum sentence prescribed by Section 15 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act on which they were tried.

    Okah, Nwabueze, Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) were initially arraigned before the court on Dec. 7, 2010.

    They were arraigned for their alleged involvement in the bomb blast which left about 12 people dead and several others injured.

    Francis-Osvwo later died in prison custody, while Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, is serving life sentence upon his conviction in 2013.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judgment which lasted about six hours has finally brought to an end litigation which started about eight years ago.

    NAN also recalls that in the course of the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses to prove that the defendants actually committed the crime.

    Okah called two witnesses including himself, Nwabueze called four witnesses.

    Read Also: 2010 bombing: Okah’s trial nears conclusion eight years after

  • 2010 Abuja bombing: Court sets March 7 for judgment in Okah’s trial

    2010 Abuja bombing: Court sets March 7 for judgment in Okah’s trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 7 this year for judgment in the over seven-year old trial of Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze.

    Okah and Nwabueze are being tried for their alleged complicity in the October 1, 2010 bomb incident at Eagle Square, Abuja, in which about 12 people died and many others were injured.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole chose March 7 for judgment after parties adopted their final written addresses yesterday.

    Adopting his address Wednesday, Okah’s lawyer, Emeka Okoroafor argued among others, that the prosecution was unable to lead sufficient evidence to warrant his client’s conviction.

    He faulted the evidence led by the prosecution and insisted that it failed to link his client with the alleged offence.

    Okoroafor prayed the court to discharge and acquit his client.

    Lawyer to Nwanbueze, Oghenevo Otemo argued in similar vein. He contended that the prosecution did not place anything before the court to warrant his client’s conviction.

    Otemo accused the prosecution of concealing some relevant materials from the court.

    He said his client made different extra-judicial statements voluntarily and that one of such statements was made at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 18, 2010.

    Otemo claimed that the prosecution refused to tender the statement his client made at the DSS headquarters before the court.

    The prosecution’s alleged refusal to tender the statement, Otemo argued, amounted to concealment of evidence, which according to him, is against the law.

    He urged the court to hold that the statement, which the prosecution allegedly refused to tender, is that which is favourable to the defendant.

    Otemo prayed the court to set Nwabueze free.

    In a counter-argument, prosecution lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN) urged the court to hold that the prosecution has proved its case against the defendants.

    He said evidence led by the prosecution conveniently reflected the involvement of the defendants in events leading to the October 1, 2010 bomb incident.

    Izinyon, who dwelt extensively on the case against Okah, described him as a schemer and the facilitator of the act of terrorism.

    “The first defendant is head, neck and toe deep in the act of terrorism”, Izinyon said.

    He said the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants were responsible for the 2010 Independence Day multiple bomb blasts in Abuje, which claimed several lives and left several others injured.

    Iziyon urged the court to convict the defendants as charged and sentence them accordingly.

    Earlier, Justice Kolawole over-ruled the defendants’ objection to the prosecution’s application dated January 29, 2018 for the court’s permission to regularise some of the exhibits it tendered.

    The judge, who faulted the defence’s argument against the application, allowed the prosecution to regularise the document on being satisfied that it has paid the necessary penalties.

    Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) were initially arraigned before the court on December 7, 2010 in relation to the alleged offence.

    Francis-Osvwo later died in prison custody, while Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, is serving life sentence upon his conviction in 2013, leaving Okah and Nwabueze to jointly stand trial on a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/186/2010.

  • 2010 bombing: Court picks February 21 for adoption of final addresses

    2010 bombing: Court picks February 21 for adoption of final addresses

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, handling the trial of two suspects involved in the October 1, 2010 bombing at the nation’s capital, Charles Okah and Obi Nwanbueze, on Monday picked February 21 for adoption of final addresses on the matter.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole chose the date after taking arguments from parties on the prosecution’s application for leave to regularise one of its exhibits.

    Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) were initially arraigned before the court on December 7, 2010 over their alleged involvement in the blast that killed 12 people and injured many others.

    Francis-Osvwo later died in prison, while Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, is serving life sentence upon his conviction in 2013, leaving Okah and Nwabueze to jointly stand trial on a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/186/2010.

    On Monday, parties were to adopt their final address when the lead prosecution lawyer,  Alex Izinyon (SAN), applied for the court’s leave to regularise one of his documents.

    The document is a list of items mentioned by John Afolabi, the 1st prosecution witness, in his testimony, which was tendered and later admitted in evidence, as exhibit 1.

    Justice Kolawole had on April 23, 2017 overruled the defence’s objection to the admission of the list in evidence.

    He admitted the document, but gave defence lawyers the option of addressing the court on the weight to be attached to the document.

    Defence lawyers – John Afolabi (for Okah) and Emeka Okafor (for Nwanbueze) objected to Iziyon’s application at Monday’s court session.

     

  • Charles Okah in safe custody, says NPS

    Charles Okah in safe custody, says NPS

    The Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) on Monday denied reported rumours that detained alleged mastermind of the 2010 bombing in Abuja  Charles Okah was refused medical attention in Kuje prison.
    According to a statement issued and made available to newsmen by the NPS spokesman Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Chukwuedo Humphrey, the command has never relented in its duty towards Okah or any other inmates concerning their health and other welfare issues.
    “The Controller of Prisons FCT Command, Sylvester Nwakuche has always ensured that inmates under his command gets adequate medical attention
    Kuje Prison has a standard hospital within the yard which is presently undergoing massive facility upgrade.
    “In addition, the FCT command has just received from the Controller General of Prisons Ahmed Ja’afaru some appreciable consignment of drugs and medical equipment and these have helped in limiting the frequent trips of our inmates to hospital as we have qualified medical personnel to attend to them.
    “The command also maintains a high level working relationship with the National Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital among other government hospitals in cases of referrals and we do not hesitate to refer cases that are beyond our medical team.
    The prisoner in question, Charles Okah has severally been taken to the National Hospital, the last date being on the 5th of December, 2017 for a case of dislodged dental crown and was treated accordingly.
    “The Command wishes to state that it has the capacity to respond promptly to health needs of its prisoners. Furthermore, neither has Charles Okah nor any other prisoner in the facility complained of lack of medical attention in recent times.
    “The command further reiterates and assures the general public that Kuje prison is safe and the inmates are in good health.”
  • Independence Day bombings: Court refuses to stop Okah’s, Nwabueze’s trial

    Independence Day bombings: Court refuses to stop Okah’s, Nwabueze’s trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday rejected the no-case submission filed by Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze, who are standing trial for their involvement in the 2010 Independence Day bombings in Abuja.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole in his ruling said the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Okah and Nwabueze to warrant their trial.

    Four suspects – Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) – were initially arraigned on December 7, 2010 on terrorism charges over the incident which 12 people and injured several others.

    Francis-Osvwo died later in prison, while Ebiware elected to have his trial.

    He was convicted in 2013 and is now serving a life sentence, leaving Okah and Nwabueze, who are now being jointly tried.

    At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case after calling about 17 witnesses, the defendants elected to make a no-case submission, arguing among others, that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against them.

    They urged the court to discharge and acquit them, claiming that the prosecution was unable to produce evidence linking them to the crime.

     

  • Court rules on Okah’s ‘no-case-submission’ May 16

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday fixed May 16 for ruling on the no-case-submission filed by Charles Okah and Nwabueze Obi, to dismiss the terrorism charges brought against them.

    The applicants were alleged masterminds of the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date after counsel to parties had canvassed their arguments.

    Okah, a younger brother of Henry Okah, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation Niger Delta, (MEND) and others standing the trial, are expected to open their defence after the May 16 ruling.

    The MEND leader, also tried for terrorism charges, is presently serving his life jail term in South Africa.

    The prosecution closed its case on January 31 but the applicants filed a no-case submission, urging the court to dismiss the charges brought against them.

    The applicants argued that the charges and the evidence presented by the prosecution so far had not established prima facie case against them.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to Okah, Mr. Emeka Okafor, told the court of his client’s motion of no-case-submission.

    “It is our final submission that Okah does not need to go through rigorous trial as the prosecutor has no evidence to prove any ingredient of offence he is charged with,” he said.

    Counsel to Nwabueze, Mr. Oghenovo Otemu, aligned himself with the submission of Okah’s counsel.

     

    NAN

  • Okah: Court adjourns no case submission hearing till March 15

    Okah: Court adjourns no case submission hearing till March 15

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned till March 15, a no-case submission  filed by Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the Independence Day bombing at Eagle Square Abuja in 2010.

    A no case submission is a term used in criminal cases whereby a defendant seeks acquittal without having to present a defence.

    The plea is also occasionally, though rarely, used in civil cases where it is alleged that the pleaded case and/or evidence do not meet the minimum threshold to establish liability.

    Charles Okah, is standing trial alongside Obi Nwabueze, for allegedly masterminding the Oct. 1, 2010 Nigeria’s Independence Day bombing at the Eagle Square Abuja.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to Okah, Samuel Izibiri (SAN), sought the order of the court to file a no-case submission, saying the prosecution had not made any case against his client.

    The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, granted the application and ordered that the motion be filed and also served to the prosecution within 14 days.

    Justice Kolawale said the prosecution should also respond within seven days of such service and adjourned hearing till March 15.

    At the last hearing, the prosecution closed his case after calling 17 witnesses to testify.

    The 17th and last prosecution witness was an operative of the Department of State Security (DSS) Humphrey Ohikware.

    Ohikware had during a cross examination by Okah’s counsel, Izibiri, told the court that he was not at the scene of the bomb blast.

    The witness also said he did not participate in the investigation; neither did he make any written statement regarding the blast.

     

  • Okah’s daughter writes Buhari over father’s failing health

    Okah’s daughter writes Buhari over father’s failing health

    The daughter of Charles Okah, the suspected arrowhead of the October 1, 2010 bomb explosion in Abuja, is pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite his trial.

    Charles is currently remanded at the Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which has been his abode since he was arrested and charged with the incident.

    Canada-based Tarila Okah in a letter to Buhari said her father’s health was failing badly.

    She begged the President to intervene and prevail on the Judiciary to admit her father to bail in line with Section 162 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

    She said the suspect was innocent of the crimes alleged against him.

    The letter reads in part: “Mr. President, I am writing this letter principally to draw your attention, the entire people of Nigeria, and members of the international community to what I perceive as injustice being willfully and maliciously meted to my father by the Nigerian state.

    “Within the last 10 months, disturbing media reports about his attempt to commit suicide at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 6, 2015 and his failing health are sad reminders of the harsh reality of my father’s frustration with the judicial system in Nigeria, which is notorious for elastic trials that can drag on for years on end and wear out all parties.

    “It is rather unfortunate that several court dates in the course of my father’s trial have been cancelled either because the presiding trial Judge had a conference to attend or for other reasons that brings disrepute to the Nigerian justice system.

    “For instance, the prosecutor failed to attend one of the trials on a date that had been agreed upon beforehand, instead choosing to attend his child’s graduation ceremony abroad.

    “With all due respect, Mr. President, no democratic government anywhere in the world, including Canada where I currently reside, would treat a prisoner’s attempt at suicide as well as the prisoner’s failing health, with disdain.

    “Such a peculiar prisoner’s case ought to be concluded speedily by the Judiciary. Alternatively, such a Prisoner of Conscience as my father should be granted bail. However, from all indications, the Nigerian Government is clearly insensitive to his plight.

    “Your Excellency, I have consulted with several Nigerian lawyers who have sufficiently educated me that, pursuant to Section 162 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice  Law in the country, my father is entitled to bail; having spent more than 3 years in prison custody.

    “Nevertheless, Justice Gabriel Kolawole has on two previous occasions overruled my father’s applications for bail. However, the pace of the trial has still not been picked up.

    “Meanwhile, Justice Kolawole in 2011 easily granted bail to Senator Ali Ndume who was standing trial for terrorism as an alleged sponsor of Boko Haram. Today, after being re-elected on the platform of your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ndume is the Majority Leader of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate, while my father (who is equally as important to society) is still languishing in prison as an inmate awaiting trial; almost six years after he was first arrested on October 16, 2010 on suspicion of being “JOMO GBOMO,” the spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).