Few days after a South African court found Mr. Henry Okah guilty for the 2010 Independence Day twin bomb blasts in Abuja, Nigeria, Justice Gabriel kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced a close associate of Okah, Mr. Edmund Ebiware, to life imprisonment. Okah too faces life imprisonment when sentenced next month.
Ebiware was alleged to have been aware of the plots to bomb the federal capital city without informing any of the security agencies.
He was initially arraigned along side Mr. Charles Okah,younger brother to Mr. Henry Okah, Obi Nwabueze and Tiemkefa Osuvwo who later died in Kuje Prison.
Ebiware had asked for his case to be separated from the others in the course of the trial, a request which the court accepted and his charge was severed from Charles Okah and the others.
He had told the court then that his offence was different from the three others.
The suspects were accused of levying war against the State in order to intimidate President Goodluck Jonathan, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.
They were also accused of terrorism and conspiracy to commit treason, contrary to Section 40 (2) of the Criminal Code CAP 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.
Ebiware was specifically accused of withholding information on the planned attack by not using reasonable means to leak the information to the President and Peace Officer to foil the planned attack.
The court held that with all the evidence brought by the prosecuting counsel, it was evident that the convict had been communicating with Henry Okah which he could not deny while being cross examined during his trial.
Justice Kolawole also held that it s established from all the evidence before him that the convict had a foreknowledge of the impending bomb attacks going by the communication which had existed between him and Mr. Henry Okah
The court found Mr. Ebiware guilty having acted contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act which requires anyone in possession of such information to take a step to inform a peace officer.
“The prosecution has successfully proved beyond doubt the three count charge filed against the accused. The accused is found guilty as charged”.
Ebiware’s lawyer, Mr. Godwin Uche, pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client who he pointed out to the court, is young man that is still in his early thirties, with a wife and two children who are depending on him adding that Ebiware did not have any record of crime before now.
Pronouncing the sentence, Justice Kolawole stated that in the light of all the court have found with regards to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that it doubts if it has the discretion to pronounce anything less than what the National Assembly has provided for, which is life imprisonment and consequently sentenced Ebiware to life imprisonment.
“The convict subject to report of good conduct by the Superintendent of prison shall after 32 years take such evidence to the council on perogative of mercy for a parole” the court added.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Godwin Uche indicated that his client will be challenging the judgment as soon as he gets a clean copy of the judgment.
MEND REACTS:
The statement, dated 23 January, and signed by “Comrade Azizi,” promises hell ahead in Nigeria. Thing is, no one knows for sure if the letter really came from MEND. See the full text after the cut...
Full Text of the Statement Purportedly From MEND
MEND/QTD/82MP/2013
23rd JANUARY 2013
Ref: CONVICTION OF OUR LEADER AND FOUNDER MR. HENRY OKAH.
We witnessed ourselves firsthand the conviction of our dear leader yesterday the 21st of January 2013 by the South African Supreme Court on all the 13th count charges which as we all know has to do with ASO ROCK politic on a man simply because he refused to be bought over.
Before yesterday’s ruling, we had high regards for the South African judiciary but not now as we were wrong on our previous assessment nevertheless, people pays for mistakes committed by others so we the High Command of MEND have an advice for the South African people, which is TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT through your judiciary stay away with events that happened in Nigeria or else some South Africans will pay dearly for it.
To the Nigerian military (The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta) don’t bother for now placing officers on alert, we will not bomb nor kill anybody for the time being, as we had communicated months back, we no long require IED or car bombs as we’ve gone pass that stage. Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets which will not be restricted to the Niger DeltaRegion alone.
We so much understand the job load of an image maker but I most point our here clearly that the JTF’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu will have much jobs to do in the region anytime soon for thinking we rely on the OLD COMMANDERS that sold out to take up arms on behalf of our leader, just don’t underrate our capabilities which will take the Nigerian Military another 10 years to catch.
We are not on the same program with regional agitators in the north or elsewhere, we will not hide our faces, soon and very soon, Nigerians will get to see the structures (Diaspora and Home) as well as our new states, regional commanders and new National Leader, arresting and killing Henry Okah will change nothing.
To the Nigerian Government, you have seen NOTHING, the disintegration of Nigeria will start through us and by us, we are well equipped for this task. We have details of all the family members of the Government (1999-2013) and our Diaspora Command will take care of that aspect, we will get to them, we will skin them and post their remains to your door steps as compensation to the Ode people, except our resources are handed over to us without conditions.
All Federal, States and Local Government officials under the pay roll of the Government ( ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Directors etc ) should stay away from the Niger Delta, if found anywhere in the South South region, they will have themselves to blame and that is if they live to tell the tales.
The Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday is hereby banished from Delta State and the region at large pending when he returns the money he stole which was meant for the Niger Delta Development Councils and also while with:
(a) Burutu Local Government Council, Delta State (1991-1993),
(b) As second Member: Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State 2000-2003.
(c) As the Special Adviser to James Ibori former Delta State Governor on Urban/Regional Planning between January 2004 and November 2005.
This whole money belongs to the Niger Delta people and most be return or he should be ready to face the consequences along with your nuclear and immediate family members.
To our Natural Resources, there will soon be a massive earthquake that will be trigged by our nuclear war head, this earthquake will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines especially to Kaduna refinery, oil installations, oil rigs and what have you, when it happens, which we know will be very soon, the Government and those owners of these oil wells and installation will know it’s a different ball game.
All oil companies, (foreign or local) should start parking up from the region as this might be the last warning, we really will not want civilians to be caught in between so please take this warning seriously.
To our old breed Commanders, you can talk as much as you want just because you were bought over for a token but we wonder why the fight against your masters, the hurricane is almost there and it will sweep everything left.
And finally to the South Africa Companies: we made some promises before and now we are repeating same, LEAVE NIGERIA totally, there will be massive and aggressive campaign on all companies owned, operated and affiliated to the South African Citizens or their Government both in Nigeria, Western and Southern Africa respectively.
OUR CAMPAIGN START AFTER HENRY OKAH’S APPEAL.
WE WILL MAKE A POINT!!!!
SIGNED:
COMRADE AZIZI
23rd January 2013
MEND REACTS:
The statement, dated 23 January, and signed by “Comrade Azizi,” promises hell ahead in Nigeria. Thing is, no one knows for sure if the letter really came from MEND. See the full text after the cut...
Full Text of the Statement Purportedly From MEND
MEND/QTD/82MP/2013
23rd JANUARY 2013
Ref: CONVICTION OF OUR LEADER AND FOUNDER MR. HENRY OKAH.
We witnessed ourselves firsthand the conviction of our dear leader yesterday the 21st of January 2013 by the South African Supreme Court on all the 13th count charges which as we all know has to do with ASO ROCK politic on a man simply because he refused to be bought over.
Before yesterday’s ruling, we had high regards for the South African judiciary but not now as we were wrong on our previous assessment nevertheless, people pays for mistakes committed by others so we the High Command of MEND have an advice for the South African people, which is TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT through your judiciary stay away with events that happened in Nigeria or else some South Africans will pay dearly for it.
To the Nigerian military (The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta) don’t bother for now placing officers on alert, we will not bomb nor kill anybody for the time being, as we had communicated months back, we no long require IED or car bombs as we’ve gone pass that stage. Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets which will not be restricted to the Niger DeltaRegion alone.
We so much understand the job load of an image maker but I most point our here clearly that the JTF’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu will have much jobs to do in the region anytime soon for thinking we rely on the OLD COMMANDERS that sold out to take up arms on behalf of our leader, just don’t underrate our capabilities which will take the Nigerian Military another 10 years to catch.
We are not on the same program with regional agitators in the north or elsewhere, we will not hide our faces, soon and very soon, Nigerians will get to see the structures (Diaspora and Home) as well as our new states, regional commanders and new National Leader, arresting and killing Henry Okah will change nothing.
To the Nigerian Government, you have seen NOTHING, the disintegration of Nigeria will start through us and by us, we are well equipped for this task. We have details of all the family members of the Government (1999-2013) and our Diaspora Command will take care of that aspect, we will get to them, we will skin them and post their remains to your door steps as compensation to the Ode people, except our resources are handed over to us without conditions.
All Federal, States and Local Government officials under the pay roll of the Government ( ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Directors etc ) should stay away from the Niger Delta, if found anywhere in the South South region, they will have themselves to blame and that is if they live to tell the tales.
The Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday is hereby banished from Delta State and the region at large pending when he returns the money he stole which was meant for the Niger Delta Development Councils and also while with:
(a) Burutu Local Government Council, Delta State (1991-1993),
(b) As second Member: Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State 2000-2003.
(c) As the Special Adviser to James Ibori former Delta State Governor on Urban/Regional Planning between January 2004 and November 2005.
This whole money belongs to the Niger Delta people and most be return or he should be ready to face the consequences along with your nuclear and immediate family members.
To our Natural Resources, there will soon be a massive earthquake that will be trigged by our nuclear war head, this earthquake will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines especially to Kaduna refinery, oil installations, oil rigs and what have you, when it happens, which we know will be very soon, the Government and those owners of these oil wells and installation will know it’s a different ball game.
All oil companies, (foreign or local) should start parking up from the region as this might be the last warning, we really will not want civilians to be caught in between so please take this warning seriously.
To our old breed Commanders, you can talk as much as you want just because you were bought over for a token but we wonder why the fight against your masters, the hurricane is almost there and it will sweep everything left.
And finally to the South Africa Companies: we made some promises before and now we are repeating same, LEAVE NIGERIA totally, there will be massive and aggressive campaign on all companies owned, operated and affiliated to the South African Citizens or their Government both in Nigeria, Western and Southern Africa respectively.
OUR CAMPAIGN START AFTER HENRY OKAH’S APPEAL.
WE WILL MAKE A POINT!!!!
SIGNED:
COMRADE AZIZI
23rd January 2013
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