Security operatives attached to Justice Gabriel
Kolawole at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, prevented Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing from committing suicide in court.
Okah, who is standing trial on charges of terrorism, had sought the permission of the judge to speak on what he termed “endless trial,” as his counsel was absent in court.
The judge granted the oral application and permitted Okah to speak for about five minutes.
Okah said: “I have been incarcerated for about five years now and I have a family to cater for. My
children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father and I am tired of this endless trial. I really do not know what I have done to be treated this way.
“Is it not better to die than to wait and be messed up
this way?” he said
Immediately after Okah ended his speech, he
grabbed a chair in the court and quickly moved
toward a window on third floor of the five-storey building and attempted to jump down.
He was immediately pulled back by security
operatives, lawyers and other litigants from
embarking on the action.
Consequently, Kolawole adjourned the case to
October 20 for continuation of trial. Others charged in the case are Obi Nwabueze and Edmund Ebuware.
The fourth accused, Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, died in Kuje prison, while Ebuwari has been jailed for life as his case was separately decided.
However, Okah and Nwabueze have been facing long trial as a result of the introduction of numerous
injunctions from both the prosecution and defence teams.
Mr. Okah, whose elder brother, Henry, was convicted of same crime in South Africa, was charged with one-count charge which contains 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another 8-count charge of terrorism.
It is my believe that security should be tight around him so that he does not suceed in this path of suicide that he has chosen.
Kolawole at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, prevented Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing from committing suicide in court.
Okah, who is standing trial on charges of terrorism, had sought the permission of the judge to speak on what he termed “endless trial,” as his counsel was absent in court.
The judge granted the oral application and permitted Okah to speak for about five minutes.
Okah said: “I have been incarcerated for about five years now and I have a family to cater for. My
children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father and I am tired of this endless trial. I really do not know what I have done to be treated this way.
“Is it not better to die than to wait and be messed up
this way?” he said
Immediately after Okah ended his speech, he
grabbed a chair in the court and quickly moved
toward a window on third floor of the five-storey building and attempted to jump down.
He was immediately pulled back by security
operatives, lawyers and other litigants from
embarking on the action.
Consequently, Kolawole adjourned the case to
October 20 for continuation of trial. Others charged in the case are Obi Nwabueze and Edmund Ebuware.
The fourth accused, Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, died in Kuje prison, while Ebuwari has been jailed for life as his case was separately decided.
However, Okah and Nwabueze have been facing long trial as a result of the introduction of numerous
injunctions from both the prosecution and defence teams.
Mr. Okah, whose elder brother, Henry, was convicted of same crime in South Africa, was charged with one-count charge which contains 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another 8-count charge of terrorism.
It is my believe that security should be tight around him so that he does not suceed in this path of suicide that he has chosen.
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