The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Charles Okah

  • Terrorism: I’m fit, ready for trial – Okah

    About four years after he was arraigned with three others for alleged terrorism, Charles Okah, told a Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday, that he is now fit and ready for trial.

    Okah said he is looking better and fit for trial.

    He said his recovery and healthy look was due to the intervention of the International Red Cross and the British High Commission, which provided them with basic needs, including bedding materials.

    “I do not want my health to be a factor any more in this case as it had been before now. I was actually ill. I did not pretend and never deliberately tried to stall this trial. The condition in the prison has now improved. They now allow me to exercise,” Okah told the court.

    Okah, who was allowed to address the court personally, said he may no longer be able to recognize his children because the prison authorities had denied members of his family access to him.

    The terror suspect said he was also not provided with sufficient medical attention and denied opportunity to undergo checkup in government’s hospitals.

    At a point, Okah raised his polo T-shirt, exposing a long scare on the left part of his stomach.

    He pointed at it and said: “Three years ago, I donated one of my kidneys to my mother. I am a half man now, who requires constant checkups. But, the government hospitals do not have the facilities required for it. But I am ready for trial. I am eager to clear my name and prove my innocence.”

    Okah, Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (a.ka General Gbokos) were first arraigned before the court on December 7, 2010 over their alleged complicity in the October 1, 2010 explosion which killed 12 people and injured several others in Abuja.

     

  • Charles Okah fit for trial, says court

    Charles Okah fit for trial, says court

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday declared Charles Okah medically fit to undergo trial.

    The judge’s confidence in Okah’s ability to stand trial became evident yesterday when, upon receiving the report of the psychiatric evaluation carried out on the accused by experts at the National Hospital, Abuja, directed lawyers to choose a date for commencement of trial.

    Okah is being tried with Obi Nwanbueze on treason charges over their alleged involvement in the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

    They are charged with 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another eight-count charge of terrorism.

    Their trial had been stalled lately owing to the Federal Government’s inability to ascertain Okah’s mental health status.

    Justice Kolawole had, in view of Okah’s strange behavior, ordered the government to present him before experts at the National Hospital, Abuja for psychiatric evaluation. Okah once urinated in open court during proceedings.

    His lawyer, John Ainetor of the Festus Keyamo Chambers, had consistently claimed that Okah was too ill to stand trial.

    Yesterday, the judge upon receiving the medical report and examining it handed it to the prosecution lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Ainetor to read.

    When Ainetor tried to react, the judge stopped him on the ground that a person’s medical report was not what should be made a public issue. The judge later asked both lawyers to pick a date for the commencement of trial.

    Ainetor told the court about his pending application dated January 13. He said his application is seeking an order of the court granting leave to Okah to be examined by an independent private medical practitioner to ascertain his mental and physical health status.

    He added that the application is also seeking an order granting leave for independent private medical practitioner to produce a medical/scientific analysis/report on the side effect of Epilim Sodium Valproate (ESV) on Okah.

    “There is need for the accused, Charles Tombra Okah, to be examined by an independent private medical practitioner, for an impartial neutral confirmation of the medical reports from both the Kuje Prisons Clinic and National Hospital Abuja, to ascertain his mental and physical health status,” Ainetor stated.

    The judge directed parties to file the necessary processes and adjourned till May 16 for argument.

     

  • Court okays Okah for trial

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday considered Charles Okah medically fit to undergo trial.

    The judge’s confidence in Okah’s ability to stand trial became evident when, upon receiving the report of the psychiatric evaluation carried out on the accused by experts at the National Hospital, Abuja, directed lawyers in the case to choose a date for the commencement of trial.

    Okah is being tried with Obi Nwanbueze on treason-related charges over their alleged involvement in the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

    They are charged with a one-count charge with 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another eight-count charge of terrorism.

    Their trial had been stalled lately owing the Federal Government’s inability to ascertain Okah’s mental health status.

    Justice Kolawole had, in view of Okah’s strange behavior, ordered the government to present him before experts at the National Hospital, Abuja for psychiatric evaluation.
    The accused once urinated in open court during proceedings.

    His lawyer, John Ainetor of the Festus Keyamo Chambers had consistently claimed that Okah was too ill to stand trial.

    The judge upon receiving the medical report on Okah and reading through it handed it the prosecution lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Ainetor to also read.

    While Ainetor made move to react after reading the report, the judge stopped him on the ground that a person’s medical report was not what should be made a public issue.

    The judge later asked both lawyers to pick a date for the commencement of trial.

     

  • Okah sues prison authorities, alleges rights violation

    Charles Okah, who is being tried for treason in Abuja, has sued the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), seeking N500million compensation over alleged violation of his right to life.
    He is being tried with one other person over their alleged involvement in the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.
    They are arraigned on a one-count charge with 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another eight-count charge of terrorism.
    Their trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja had been stalled lately owing to the Federal Government’s inability to ascertain Okah’s mental health status.
    Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had, in view of Okah’s strange behaviour and claim by his lawyer that he was too ill to stand trial, ordered the government to present him before experts at the National Hospital, Abuja for psychiatric evaluation.
    Okah, had once urinated in open court during proceedings. The federal government is yet to produce an acceptable report of the psychiatric evaluation before the court.
    He is being detained in Kuje Prison, Abuja.
    The report is expected at the next adjourned date on May 12.
    Okah claimed, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, that the prison authorities locked him inside a solitary cell while the cell was being fumigated.
    He stated that as a result of the chemicals he inhaled from the fumigation, he became nauseous, weak and finds it difficult to breath.
    Okah said he was not given drugs to treat himself and when his wife brought the drugs ‎prescribed for him, the prison authorities seized them.

  • Court rejects FG’s report on Okah’s health status

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected the report of medical examination conducted on suspected terrorist, Charles Okah, by the Federal Government.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling, ordered that a fresh medical assessment, that will reveal Okah’s current mental state be conducted within 15 days.

    The judge’s decision was upon observation raised by defence lawyer, John Ainetor, about some inconsistencies contained in the report.

    Okah is being tried with Obi Nwabueze over the 2010 Independence Day twin bombing in Abuja which killed about 12 people, leaving several others injured.

    Four people, believed to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) led by Henry Okah (currently serving jail term in South Africa) were originally arraigned before the court in December 2011 over the incident.

    One of them, Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo a.ka General Gbokos, died later, while another suspect, Edmund Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

    At the last hearing on December 4 last year, Justice Kolawole, upon complaint by Ainetor that Okah was not mentally fit to stand trial, ordered a psychiatric evaluation on him.

    On Wednesday, Justice Kolawole gave a copy of the medical report from the National Hospital, Abuja, dated January 9 to lawyers on both sides to read. The report was signed by a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist with the National Hospital, Dr. O. T. Ephraim Oluwanuga.

    After reading the report, lead prosecution lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN) argued that from the report, it could be deduced that Okah was fit to stand trial. He said he was ready to proceed and sought the court’s permission to continue with the trial.

    Ainetor objected, noting that the report contained some contradicting information. He observed that while the concluding part stated that Okah could stand trial, part of the findings contained in the body of the report stated otherwise.

    He noted that in pages two and three of the report, the medical expert, who examined his client observed that he (Okah) suffers from “Psychotic depression, fatigues disorder and auditory/visual hallucinations.”

    Ainetor argued that in view of the contradiction in the findings and conclusions contained in the report, there was need for further evaluation of the accused person.

     

     

  • Court orders psychiatric test for Independence Day bomber

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered that terrorism suspect, Charles Okah be subjected to psychiatric evaluation to ascertain whether he was mentally sound enough for trial.

    The judge made the order on Wednesday while ruling on arguments by lawyers for the prosecution and defence on whether or not Okah was fit to stand trial.

    Okah is being tried with Obi Nwabueze over the 2010 Independence Day twin bombing in Abuja which caused the death of about 12 people, leaving several others injured.

    Four people, believed to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) lead by Henry Okah (currently serving jail term in South Africa) were originally arraigned before the court in December 2011 over the incident.

    One of them, Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo a.k.a General Gbokos, died later, while another, Edmund Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

    On Wednesday, Okah, who was brought to court on a wheel chair, could hardly move. He was wheeled into the court room by prison officials.

    When the case was called, the prison officials merely pushed him to the side of the court room to enable the judge see him. His co-accused, Obi moved into the dock.

    His lawyer, John Ainetor, told the court that his client’s health condition has deteriorated.

    He said Okah could no longer walk, was confined to the wheel chair and “is shaking.”

    He accused the prison authorities of denying his client adequate medical attention. Ainetor told the court that his client could not stand trial in his current state because he was not fit.

    Responding, lead prosecution lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), said Okah, who is the first accused person, was pretending.

     

     

  • Okah seeks audience with Amnesty Committee

    One of the suspects on trial for October 1, 2010 bomb blast, Charles Okah has sought audience with the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the north headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

    Okah on Friday requested prison officials in Kuje to allow him to meet with the committee.

    He said he wanted to provide more useful information on the Independence Day bomb blast which allegedly implicated some Boko Haram members.

    But it was learnt that some government officials have reservations about Okah’s request because the mandate of the Amnesty Committee does not cover the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

    A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Charles has asked prison authorities to allow him to interact with the Amnesty Committee. He has been alleging that he has ‘useful information’ to give to the panel on October 1, 2010 bombing.

    “The suspect said he would want to speak on what to talk on alleged dimension of Boko Haram to the bomb explosion. He claimed that the new facts border on what President Goodluck Jonathan assumed that MEND was not behind the October 1 blast.

    “This latest twist from Okah is a complete departure from charges against him and evidence before the court for his trial.”

    A top government official, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have reservations about his demand for audience with the Amnesty Committee whose mandate does not cover the activities of MEND. Why is he just coming up with Boko Haram factor now to attract sympathy?

    “Maybe he is trying to hang on to the committee as the last straw since the MEND leader, Henry Okah had been convicted in South Africa . Well, we will forward his request to the relevant desk, the Amnesty Committee will determine whether to meet him or not.

    “If the committee is disposed to his agitation, we will just provide necessary access.”

    Charles is the junior brother of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, who is also in detention in South Africa .

    Charles has been on trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja with Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osuvwo.

    Ebiware was also jailed recently by the High Court.

    Francis Osuvwo died in Kuje Prison on March 2, 2012 as a result of alleged dehydration.

     

  • Abuja bombing ‘accomplice’ sentenced to life imprisonment

    Abuja bombing ‘accomplice’ sentenced to life imprisonment

    …To get parole after 32 years

    The Federal High Court on Friday sentenced an accomplice in the October 1, 2010 suicide bombing in Abuja, Edmund Ebuware, to life imprisonment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the convict would upon good conduct enjoy a parole subject to the approval of the president after serving 32 years in jail.

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the prosecution was able to prove the allegations against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

    Kolawole said the convict’s defence was inconsistent with the facts contained in his statement.

    “It is clear from the facts before the court that Ebuware did have the information on the planned bombing of Abuja on October 1, 2010 but kept it away from the authority.

    “It was also confirmed from the series of record of call logs before the court as exhibit clearly shows that the convict had fore-knowledge of the blast.

    “You Edmund Ebuware, charged for treasonable felony under Section 40 of the Criminal Code for the role you played in the unfortunate bombing of innocent persons on October 1, 2010 is hereby found guilty as charged.

    “You are, therefore, committed to a maximum life imprison but shall by good conduct subject to the approval of the president granted a parole after serving 32 years.

    “I am aware of the fact that the second leg of the pronouncement is not yet part of the country’s practice but we hope that this decision will ignite an amendment of that part of the law to give room for parole.

    “I am moved to give you a succour to enjoy a parole because of your young age, wife and your very young family.

    “This should be a lesson to young people who are bent on destroying our country through terror act.

    “I view you as a young man who is in a hurry to become relevant in our complex society,’’ Kolawole said.

    NAN further reports that others charged with the bombing were Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze, while the fourth accused, Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, died in Kuje prison on March 2, 2012.