Henry Okah denied bail

Henry Okah
The suspected leader of the movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr Henry Okah has been denied bail by a magistrate court in South Africa.

Friday's decision ended a month of bail hearings that played out like a mini-trial of henry Okah. Prosecutors who say they are working closely with Nigerian authorities presented evidence drawn from Okah's diaries and computer correspondence they say bolsters accusations he was behind deadly bombings in Abuja, Nigeria, during Oct. 1 independence celebrations.

"Your bail application is denied," Magistrate Hein Louw said.

He stated that evidence given by Okah when he took the stand failed to convince the court that he was not the leader of the movement for the emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

"The most damning evidence is that in a letter written in her handwriting the applicant's wife refers to him as being the leader of mend," Louw said.

 
Okah insists he is innocent. He has lived in South Africa since last year and was arrested in Johannesburg a day after the bombings.

Okah faces terrorism related charges for his alleged involvement in the October 1 independence day bombing in Abuja.

Twelve people were killed and 36 were injured in the bomb blast.

 


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