Henry Okah the mastermind of the 2010 independence day bombing in Abuja, has been found guilty by a South African court sitting in Johannesburg. The bombings which led to the death of over a dozen people at Eagle Square Abuja, the venue of the independence celebration occured shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries were ushered in. The 2010 independence celebration was unique as it marked the golden jubilee anniversary of Nigeria, having gained independence from Great Britain in 1960.

Henry Okah the mastermind of the 2010 independence day bombing in Abuja, has been found guilty by a South African court sitting in Johannesburg. The bombings which led to the death of over a dozen people at Eagle Square Abuja, the venue of the independence celebration occured shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries were ushered in. The 2010 independence celebration was unique as it marked the golden jubilee anniversary of Nigeria, having gained independence from Great Britain in 1960.

The accused who was arrested in Johannesburg a day after the twin bomb blasts was found guilty of 13 count charges that relate to terrorism. The charges levelled against Okah by Neel Claassen of the Johannesburg High Court included conspiracy to commit terrorism by detonating explosive devices. Based on this conviction, Henry Okah could face life imprisonment in line with South African laws.

Henry Okah has always maintained innocence of all the charges levelled againts him, but the group in which he co-founded, the Movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the acts and implicated him. It would be recalled that he was arrested in Angola in 2007 for gun running and transferred to Nigeria but the Government of Nigeria offered amnesty to all militants in the Niger Delta and was therefore set free.

By Henry Johnson

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South African Court Convicts Henry Okah over 2010 Independence Day bombings in Abuja