MEND leader sentenced to 24 Years imprisonment in South Africa
Nigerian leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND), Henry Okah has been jailed for 24 years by the South
Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday for his role in October 1,
2010 Abuja bombings.
“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.
Source: SAPA
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