A lawyer representing Charles Okah, who is held in
connection with the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja, has accused
Nigerian prison authorities of punishing Mr. Okah for recording abuses within
the Kuje prison in Abuja.
connection with the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja, has accused
Nigerian prison authorities of punishing Mr. Okah for recording abuses within
the Kuje prison in Abuja.
Mr. Okah’s brother, Henry Okar, is the leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND.
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND.
The group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but Henry
Okah denied responsibility for the attack. His brother, Charles, who has been held for five years,
denies any link to the group.
Okah denied responsibility for the attack. His brother, Charles, who has been held for five years,
denies any link to the group.
His lawyer, Timipa Okponipere, said Thursday that Mr. Okar
had been held in solitary confinement without food and drugs within the last 24
hours after he disagreed with the officer in charge of Kuje prison, Musa Tanko. Mr. Okponipere said Mr. Okah’s journals were also seized. Continue…
had been held in solitary confinement without food and drugs within the last 24
hours after he disagreed with the officer in charge of Kuje prison, Musa Tanko. Mr. Okponipere said Mr. Okah’s journals were also seized. Continue…
A spokesperson for the prison service did not confirm or
deny the allegation.
deny the allegation.
“We are doing a letter which will be delivered to the
Minister of Interior on Monday to draw his attention to the predicament that my
client, Okah, is passing through now,” Mr. Okponipere said.
Minister of Interior on Monday to draw his attention to the predicament that my
client, Okah, is passing through now,” Mr. Okponipere said.
“We are raising the alarm now so that if anything happens to
Mr. Okah, the prison authorities will be held responsible. As we speak, they
are about bringing trumped up charges against him,” he said.
Mr. Okah, the prison authorities will be held responsible. As we speak, they
are about bringing trumped up charges against him,” he said.
Mr. Okponipere said even as an inmate of the Kuje Prison,
Mr. Okah’s fundamental rights were guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Government of Nigeria.
Mr. Okah’s fundamental rights were guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Government of Nigeria.
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