Henry Okah is convicted

The long term imbroglio between President Jonathan and Henry Okah, the acclaimed leader of the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is gradually finally being laid to rest with the conviction of Okah. 

A South African court on Monday convicted Nigerian national Henry Okah of 13 terrorism charges, including bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on independence day 2010.

“I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused,” said Judge Nels Claassen, handing down the verdict in the South Gauteng High Court.

Okah was found guilty of masterminding attacks including twin car bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on October 1, 2010 and two explosions in March 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri, a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region.

Okah continues to deny involvement in the blasts. He said the charges were politically motivated. He also denied leading MEND, but had said he sympathised with their goals.

However the South African court found Okah was the leader of the movement after uncovering documentary evidence including his wife’s handwritten notes. (AFP) 

Okah's brother who has been held in Nigeria ever since in connexion with the bombing had written a long letter smuggled out of prison detailing all the conspiracy against his brother as revealed by his interview and questioning by men of the State Security Service (SSS). 

It now looks as if becoming the President is another avenue to get back at those one is not in good terms with.