Nigeria Hails South African Supreme Court’s Verdict On Henry Okah

       

The Presidency has lauded the South African Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision of October 3rd, 2016, confirming the conviction of Henry Okah to 20 years in prison.

This development was confirmed by a presidency official, who preferred anonymity, while speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja on Saturday.

On October 3, the court had found Okah guilty on two out of the six-counts charges relating to the Warri bombings preferred against him.

The court also upheld the 12-year sentence for his role in the Abuja bombing – that claimed many innocent lives.

The convictions upheld are those as regards to the Warri bombing, relating to Okah’s providing finance and equipment without which the bombing would not have been executed.

The source stated that the Nigerian government had written “a measured letter” to the South Africa, hailing the judicial decision as a big step forward towards removing terrorism from the continent.

The source said: “South Africa has projected itself an enduring partner to Nigeria in the war against terrorism. When African countries act jointly against terrorism, they send out clear and unambiguous signals that there is no more a place for terrorism on our continent.”

The court held that Okah provided more than two million Naira (N2 million) to three individuals for the purpose of acquiring vehicles and explosives for use in the Warri bombing.

The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, by this judgment has effectively reduced the 12-year sentence for Warri bombing to 8 years but maintained the 12-year sentence for the Abuja bombing.

It makes the conviction period 20 years as against the 24- year ruling by a lower Court.