Court dumps FG’s charge over Okah’s alleged attempt to kill Jonathan

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, dismissed a no-case-submission Mr. Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze filed over their alleged involvement in the 2010 Independence Day bomb blast that killed twelve persons at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

The court however, struck out a second charge marked FHC/ CR/187/2010, which accused the defendants of committing treasonable felony punishable with death.

The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, after dismissing the second charge, fixed July 6 and 7 for the duo to enter their defence to an amended 8-count terrorism charge the Federal Government filed against them on January 10, 2011.

The charges marked FHC/ CR/186/2010, which was predicated on section 15 (1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Act, attracts life imprisonment upon conviction.

Among other things, the Federal Government alleged in the charge that the defendants endangered the life of former President Goodluck Jonathan during Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary celebration in
Abuja.

Charles is the younger brother to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, who is still serving a prison term in South Africa.

Charles and Nwabueze supposedly masterminded different terrorist activities within the Niger Delta region of the country. Among the terrorist activities the duo were linked to, was the bomb explosion that rocked a post amnesty programme in Warri, Delta State.

The Federal Government accused them of conspiring with Henry and one Emmanuel Allison to make a direct attempt to endanger the life of ex-President Jonathan by attempting to drive two motor vehicles wired
with time-regulated explosive devices to the Eagle Square, while independence celebration was ongoing.

The accused persons were said to have between January 2 and March 15, 2010, within Port-Harcourt Rivers State and diverse places, conspired with Henry Okah, Chima Orlu, who is at large, and persons unknown, to
make a direct attempt to endanger the lives of then governors of Delta, Edo and Imo states by seeking to drive two motors vehicles wired with time regulated explosive devices into government house annex, Warri, Delta State, where a Post Amnesty Dialogue event was taking place and the governors were in attendance.

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But in his ruling on the above charges among others, Justice Kolawole held that FG was unable to show evidence that the defendants attempted to kill ex-President Jonathan or that he was intimidated or
over-hedged in anyway by the twin blast that took place during the Independence Day celebration.

The judge further said that there was also no evidence that the 50th independence anniversary ended abruptly or that the ex-President was ferried to safety by his guards.

According to him, the Federal Government ought to have produced some of the security guards or even the ex-President himself to testify before the court.

He said, “Consequently, the charge is hereby struck out and the defendants are hereby discharged on the charge marked FHC/CR/187/2010 which relates to more serious charge of treason.”

Other matters in the case will continue on July 6 and 7.

 

 

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