Henry Okah Found Guilty of 2010 Independence Day Bomb Attacks

A South African court has found Henry Okah guilty of terrorism charges leveled against him by the federal government ofNigeria.

Okah is accused of masterminding two carbombings in Abuja on October 1 in 2010. 12 people were killed and 36 were injured. He was arrested in Johannesburg the following day.

Okah was allegedly the leader of the Movementfor the Emancipation ofthe Niger Delta, that claimed responsibility for the blasts.

He was charged with engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonatingan explosive device.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, who was firstto give evidence at the opening of Okah’s trial said Okah was a
“key figure in the Niger Deltastruggle and the militants had a lot of respect for him”.

Okah denied involvement in the attacks, which were claimed by MEND militants, and also denies being the leaderof the group.