Okah sentencing postponed
2013-02-01 12:48
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Johannesburg
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Johannesburg - The sentencing process of Nigerian terrorist Henry Okah was
postponed until 28 February by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on
Friday.
Okah's attorney Lucky Maunatlala asked for the postponement to give
witnesses from Nigeria and the United States time to get to South Africa to
testify.
Okah was found guilty last month of 13 counts of terrorism, including
engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity,
and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.
The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 12 people
died and 36 were injured on 1 October 2010, the anniversary of the country's
independence.
They also involved two explosions in March 2010 in the southern Nigerian
city of Warri.
Witnesses
The court heard on Friday that Okah intended calling at least five
witnesses.
"I will postpone this matter for purposes of hearing arguments in
mitigation or aggravation of sentencing," said Judge Neels Claassen,
setting the matter down for 28 February, 1 March and 4 March.
Claassen said in his judgment last month that the State had proved Okah's
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and that his failure to testify meant the
evidence against him remained uncontested.
He found no evidence that Okah did not head the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which claimed responsibility for the blasts.
During the trial, Okah denied any involvement in the blasts and said the
charges against him were politically motivated.
- SAPA
