VUYO MKIZE
Nigerian terrorism accused Henry Okah will have to wait until next year for his trial to start as police conduct further investigations.
While the case was postponed at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, a provisional date of January 30 was set for the start of his trial. Okah is facing charges of terrorism and conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity following the Independence Day bombings in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 1 last year in which 12 people were killed.
He is also suspected of being the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Okah’s defence lawyer, Rudi Krause, is set to call 103 witnesses to testify on his behalf. Among some of the witnesses to be called is the former director of public prosecutions in Nigeria, Salihu Aliyu, and Nigerian Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke.
Krause also implored that magistrate Hein Louw endorse Okah’s request for medical attention as he had been scheduled for back surgery since late last year.
But due to numerous requests for him to see his private lawyer being “thwarted” by the Department of Correctional Services, he still had not received medical attention.
“His condition is getting progressively worse,” Krause said.
State prosecutor Shaun Abrahams countered Krause’s argument, saying it was his doctor who had backed out of the appointment. Abrahams said there were plans to get Okah medical treatment soon.