Henry Okah was alleged to have been the mastermind of the October 1, 2010, bombing which occurred at the Eagle Square, Abuja, during the Independence Day celebration.
Twelve people were reportedly killed while 36 were injured. Okah, the alleged leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta that claimed responsibility for the blasts, was arrested in Johannesburg the following day.
Okah was charged with engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.
Among those who had testified at the S.A. Court was minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe. Okah denied involvement in the attacks, which were claimed by MEND militants, and also denied being the leader of the group.
Also testifying at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg was a witness who introduced himself as Stanley.
He said that Henry Okah gave instruction for the attacks in Abuja during the independence anniversary celebrations in 2010.
“I overheard Okah on numerous occasions discussing the purchase of weapons and in 2007 he contacted me asking me to pass a message to other leaders to do whatever it takes to get him out of jail. His wife Azuka also planned to kidnap the Angolan ambassador in Nigeria to bargain for his release,” Stanley said.
He affirmed that, in January 2010, Okah instructed him to get an empty apartment he wanted to use to assemble car bombs.
He also explained what he knew about the bombing.
“A friend, Raphael Danfebo, told me Okah wanted to carry out the terror attack and gave instructions for two cars to be sent to Abuja on October. 1,” Stanley said.
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