Charles Okah is the younger brother to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is serving a life sentence in South Africa.
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Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date to rule on the motion after counsel to parties had canvassed their arguments
The position of the Okah brothers is coming on the heels of the accusation by Clark that Henry and Charles Okah were the masterminds of the kidnap of Ebikeme, who has since been freed
Okah and one Obi Nwabueze were charged with masterminding the October 1, 2010 twin bombing at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
MEND said its attack, as had been in the past, would be focussed on oil installations until Nigeria shows remorse
Justice Neels Claaseen of South Guateng High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday sentenced Okah to 24 years imprisonment for the October 1, 2010 independence day bombing in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital
“Effectively, the accused (Okah) is therefore sentenced to 24 years imprisonment,” Judge Neels Claassen was quoted by the South African news agency, SAPA, as having said during judgement.
Claasen said the postponement was to enable Okah’s new legal team, led by Gerrit Miller, the time to get itself familiar with the notes left by the former defence team that withdrew from the case
The judge’s position was influenced by the appeal of Okah’s counsel for an adjournment to allow all witnesses make their pleas for a lighter sentence for Okah
He said that MEND would issue a statement soon stating its position on the conviction of Okah for terrorism
MEND, in a statement, described the implication of Okah in the alleged bombing as political, saying that it was his refusal to do the bidding of government officials in Nigeria’s seat of power that led to his conviction
According to Justice kolawole, Section 40(B) of the Criminal Code Act provides that any person who becomes an accessory to treason or becomes aware of the commission of treason and did not give evidence to the President, a State Governor or a peace officer, in order to prevent the commission of the crime, is liable to treason and sentenced to life in prison
Keyamo, who is Okah’s counsel in the criminal case against him in Nigeria, described the conviction of Okah by the South African court as politically motivated
A South African court, according to report monitored, said Okah was convicted on a 13-count charge bordering on terrorism.