Former member of the Movement for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah was on Tuesday jailed for 24 years by the
South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
“Effectively, the accused (Mr Okah) is therefore
sentenced to 24 years imprisonment,” Judge Neels Claassen said as he handed
down sentence.
On 21 January, Mr Okah was found guilty on 13 counts
of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage
in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive
device.
The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja,
Nigeria, in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on 1 October 2010, the
anniversary of the country’s independence.
Continue after the cut...
The second bombing took place in Warri on 15 March
2010 at a post amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed and 11 seriously
injured.
In both bombings, two car bombs went off minutes
apart in both places. The cars were parked in close proximity to each other.
Judge Claassen sentenced Okah to 12 years
imprisonment for each of the bombings and 13 years for the threats made to the
South African government after his arrest in October 2010.
The 13 years would run concurrently with the 24
years.
In January, during judgment, Judge Claassen said the
State had proved Mr Okah’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and his failure to
testify meant the evidence against him remained uncontested.
Mr Okah has denied any involvement, claiming the
charges against him were politically motivated.
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