Terrorism: Okah Attempts Suicide In Court

Security operatives attached to Justice Gabriel Kolawole at
the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday prevented Charles Okah, the alleged
mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing, from committing suicide in
court.

Mr. Okah, a brother to Henry Okah, the leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation Niger Delta, MEND, is standing trial on charges
of terrorism.

He had sought the permission of the judge on Tuesday to
speak on what he termed “endless trial”, as his counsel was absent in court.

The judge granted the oral application and permitted Mr.
Okah to speak for about five minutes.

He said “I have been incarcerated for about five years now
and I have a family to cater for.

“My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of
their father and I am tired of this endless trial.

“I really do not know what I have done to be treated this
way.

“Is it not better to die than to wait and be messed up this
way?” he asked.

Immediately after Mr. Okah ended his speech, he grabbed a
chair in the court and quickly moved toward a window on third floor of the
five-storey building and attempted to jump down.

He was immediately pulled back by security operatives,
lawyers and other litigants from jumping.

Consequently, Mr. Kolawole adjourned the case to October 20
for continuation of trial.

Others charged in the case are Obi Nwabueze and Edmund
Ebuware.

The fourth accused, Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, died in Kuje prison,
while Ebuwari has been jailed for life as his case was separately decided.

However, Messrs. Okah and Nwabueze have been facing long
trial as a result of the introduction of numerous injunctions from both the
prosecution and defence teams.

(NAN)