FG seeks accelerated trial of Charles Okah

Vanguard- The Federal Government, yesterday, applied for an accelerated trial of the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bomb blast that killed twelve persons at the Eagle Square in Abuja, Mr. Charles Okah.

Charles, who is a younger brother to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, who had since been convicted by a South African Court, is facing terrorism charges alongside one Obi Nwabueze.

FG made the application after it denied an allegation by the accused person that a medication called Epilim Sodium Valproate (ESV), which is meant for epilepsy, was forcefully administered on him at the Kuje Prisons where he was remanded in by the court.

Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, opposed Okah’s request that a private medical practitioner be allowed to examine him with a view to producing a medical report on the side effect of the said epilepsy drug on him.

“My Lord, the accused person is bent on frustrating this trial. His fresh application to be evaluated by an independent medical practitioner is very frivolous and wasteful of the precious time of this court. The state is irritated by this application.

“It is a clear ploy by the accused person to further delay this matter after four years. Justice is three-way traffic and my Lord should consider the interest of the larger society. People lost their dear ones in that explosion which led to the instant death of four children who came to watch the Independence Day celebration.

“They are certainly crying out for justice, this is why we want this trial to be expedited. This is a matter of serious nature that involves treason”, Iziyon added.

FG equally maintained that Okah who is currently confined to a wheel chair, is mentally fit to stand his trial, “he doesn’t need to stand in the dock. He can be tried in his wheel chair, after all former Egyptian president was brought to court in a cage and tried on a bed,” the government lawyer argued.

Besides, FG told the court that the exhibit Okah relied on to allege that he was given an epilepsy medication was produced in January, saying there was nothing to show that the drug was still being administered on him.

“We do not agree that the drug was even given to him. The document was cooked up to whip-up sentiment of this court”, Iziyon insisted.

He said FG has the liberty to transfer Okah to a mental home should he maintain that he is not mentally fit.

Meanwhile, Okah’s lawyer, Mr. John Anieto, yesterday, urged the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole to look at the entire circumstances of the case impartially and without sentiment to public opinion.

Contending that the National Hospital which initially tendered a medical report on Okah is an agent of the federal government, Anieto, said his client’s family had volunteered to bear the cost of the proposed independent medical evaluation.

Before adjourning the matter to June 9 for ruling, trial Justice Kolawole, said the court would have no option than to suspend the proceeding should it be ascertained that the accused person is not fit to stand trial.

Likewise, the Appeal Court in Abuja has fixed September 16 to commence hearing on an appeal that was lodged before it by Okah.

It will be recalled that one of the alleged masterminds of that bombing, Mr. Osvwo Tekemfa Francis, a.k.a ‘General-Gbokos’, died in prison custody, even as the high court in a separate judgment, jailed the 3rd accused person, Edmund Ebiware, to life imprisonment.

Specifically, Charles and Nwabueze were said to have superintended over varying terrorist activities that hitherto took place within the oil rich Niger Delta region of the country, including the bomb explosion that rocked a post amnesty programme that was organised by Vanguard Newspaper in Warri, Delta State.

FG alleged that they endangered the life of President Goodluck Jonathan while Nigeria celebrated its 50th independence anniversary in Abuja.

Apart from a one-count charge with 22-particulars of overt acts of treason instituted against them, FG,\ alleged that they conspired with Henry Okah and one Emmanuel Allison to make a direct attempt to endanger the life of President Jonathan by seeking to drive two motor vehicles wired with time-regulated explosive devices to the Eagle Square where the Independence celebration was taking place.

FG also alleged that the accused persons between January 2 and March 15, 2010, within Port-Harcourt Rivers State and diverse places, conspired with Henry Okah, Chima Orlu, at large, and persons unknown, to make a direct attempt to endanger the lives of the Governor of Delta state, Edo state and Imo state by seeking to drive two motors vehicles wired with time regulated explosive devices into government house annex, Warri, Delta State, the venue of the Vanguard Post Amnesty Dialogue, where the said governors were in attendance, in order to cause a bomb blast for the purpose of levying war against the state.

It added that a man lost his life because of that explosion.

Charles was said to have among other offences, engaged the services of one Bassey Umoren, a welder, and paid him N50, 000, to construct hidden compartments into four motor cars, two of which were subsequently loaded with explosive devices at Port-Harcourt by Obi Nwabueze and Chima Orlu, at large, and positioned on 1st October at 0830 hours near the venue of the anniversary for the purpose of levying war against the state.

He was accused of sending two consignments of army camouflage torches, bullet proof vests and boots to Allison for onward transmission to one Segun Llori alias Stone face, at large, for use by terrorists recruited by Henry Okah in the creeks of Niger Delta.

FG seeks accelerated trial of Charles Okah

I"ll do everything possible to end insurgency, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan vowed yesterday to do everything possible to end the insurgency that has shaken Nigeria to its roots.

He spoke after being conducted round the blast site in Nyanya on the outskirts of Abuja, where scores died in an early morning suicide bombing. Boko Haram is temporary and that Nigeria would overcome.

Dr. Jonathan, with whom was Senate President David Mark, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Muazu and National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki condoled with the families of those who died. He directed that the best medical services be given to the injured. He also ordered tight security around the city.

Jonathan visited some of the victims at the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja. He was conducted round the emergency wards by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Abubakar Adamu.

At the scene of the attacks, the President said: “You can see that I’m here with the Senate President, David Mark and Chairman of PDP, ministers, CDS and service chiefs, and all other very senior government functionaries. Let us collectively express our condolences to the families of those who suffered directly on the incident.

“I am also commending security services for their prompt action. Though we lost quite a number of people, we condole with our countrymen and women. We will continue to work very hard.”

He went on: “The issue of Boko Haram is temporary. Government is doing everything to make sure that we move our country forward, in spite of all the distractions that want to take us backward. We promise that we will get over it.

“We also want to use this unique opportunity to plead with the media and our great men and women to come up with enlightenment programme for our people. Those countries that face terror, they have developed great awareness. If there are unusual movement of vehicles and bags, they call security and based on this a lot of incident are contained.

“So, we believe that if people will become observant and all of us become security conscious by the movement of people, we will be able to reduce some of these incident.”

“We will do our best; the security services will continue to work very hard. God willing, we will get over it. The issue of Boko Haram is temporary; surely we will get over it.” He stated

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, posted on his Twitter Account: “Jonathan saddened by loss of lives in Nyanya bombing. Ordered heightened security in Abuja following the incident. Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Direct medical services to do their best to save lives.”

At the Asokoro General Hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Amodu Abubakar, confirmed that close to 30 bodies were at the hospital’s mortuary while 25 injured were receiving treatment.

He said: “We have around 27 to 30 dead here and about 25 victims are receiving treatment here. We only have problem of population that are trying to check for their loved ones. However, we are coping with everything here.”

At the National Hospital, 16 of the victims were confirmed dead. 47 are being treated for injuries.

There were 14 bodies at Maitama Hospital, which had 27 seriously injured persons on admission. Three persons in critical conditions were referred to the National Hospital.

Among the three referred was a man who was bleeding profusely from around the neck. The doctors battled to stop the bleeding to no avail. At a point, some of the medical personnel attending to him raised their hands in hopelessness before he was wheeled away.

A ten-month-old girl survived the blast. The baby, whose mother died survered bruises on her right hand.

She was taken to the Asokoro Hospital.

At the Wuse Hospital, our reporters counted 15 bodies. Seven injured were on admission.

The bodies were burnt, some beyond recognition. They were packed in body bags, but their faces were opened for identification.

The bodies were laid at the entrance of the mortuary and opened for families and friends to identify.

Some of the bodies have been identified and properly packed while those yet to be identified were tagged with numbers.

Among them were a mechanic and a lady with a nine months’ old baby who the hospital management referred to as Victoria.

According to the management, Victoria, along with two others, were rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) department but they died.

Relatives were going round the hospitals in search of their loved ones.

Eyewitnesses gave various accounts of the incident.

A commercial motorcycle rider, who gave his name as Wahad, told NAN that a man threw a bag containing the bomb into the congested park.

“I was conveying a passenger to the park this morning when I saw a man throw a big black bag into the park; the next thing I saw was explosion,’’ Wahad said.

Another eyewitness, David Lukman, said that the bomb was planted in a car at the park.

“I am very sure the bomb was either planted at the park last night or a suicide bomber posing as a passenger entered one of the cars with it,’’ he said.

A stockbroker, Abbas Adamu, said four of his friends died in the explosion.

“I have never seen something like this in my entire life.

“My friends told me this morning that they were going to Kaduna and because I was also going to Kaduna in my car, I told them to wait for me at the park so that we go together.

“But I asked them to enter the park and not wait under the bridge because Road Safety and VIO (Vehicle Inspection Officers) officials usually disturb along the road under the bridge.

“Seconds later, I heard a loud explosion; in fact, I can’t explain because I felt something like electric shock inside the car, and as I speak to you now, my friends are all dead,’’ Adamu said.

Mr Romanus Ugwu, an Abuja journalist, resident at Nyanya, told NAN that he ran to the scene on hearing the blast.

Ugwu said he saw a “gory sight” because many people were burning in some cars and were calling for help that never came to them. while others were on the ground, helpless, without limbs, he said.

“You have to be hard hearted to look at these things. I saw a woman lying face down without limbs. One, who was surrounded by her children, struggled for life and gave up in their arms.

“These attackers appear to be more proactive than our rescue organisations and security agencies because so many lives would have been saved if help had come in time.’’

Ugwu said he counted many bodies littered on the ground in the park, but could not say if all of them were dead.

He, however, praised the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel for their rescue efforts.

Mr Abdulrazak Haruna of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Unit of NSCDC told NAN that he counted more than 100 bodies, including the injured, while evacuating victims.

“It is a sad experience. We counted 20 BRT buses, 14 cars, 24 commuter buses and 13 motorcycles.’’

Mr Femi Lawal, a survivor of the blast who could not contain his joy and gratitude to God for sparing him, said he had dropped from one of the green buses from One-man Village and was heading to the park when the blast went off.

Lawal said he fell and was dazed momentarily before realising what had happened.

He said he heard a loud bang, which nearly blinded him, and saw a thick smoke while people ran in confusion.

The 32-year-old man, who was wounded on the wrist and neck, said: “It is a day I will live to remember.”

I"ll do everything possible to end insurgency, says Jonathan

"Seek foreign help to end boko haram" - Atiku tells Jonathan

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed anger and sadness at the bombings of the  in the suburbs of Abuja that left scores dead and many injured.

In a statement by his media office in Abuja, he said this needless bloodletting cannot continue unabated, adding that it requires new strategies to nip it in the bud.

While describing those behind the bombings as evil and callous  with scant regard for the sanctity of human life, Atiku said the latest bombings by insurgents should be a wake-up call to all Nigerians on the imperative of ending the blame game and working together to end this scourge.

“As a country, we are not doing enough of focusing on and implementing solutions. We are all guilty of expending endless energy on handwringing and the trading of blame, none of which is able to save lives or change the status quo,” the former Vice President said.

The former Vice President recalled that government had in February this year spoken about its successes in pushing Boko Haram to the “fringes” of the Northeast, where a state of emergency currently exists in a number of states, and where the Boko Haram terrorist group has carried out many deadly attacks recently.

He said the bombings, which took place at a motor park in Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, cast doubts on the claims of containing the crisis to the fringes of the country.

“There is an urgent need for the government of Nigeria to review its methods and strategies for dealing with terrorism,” Atiku said.

He called for a step-up in intelligence, listening posts, picking up trends and conversations with a view to pre-empting terrorist attacks, adding that it is time for Nigeria to accept foreign assistance with fighting terrorism in the country.

While expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the bombings, the former Vice President urged well-meaning Nigerians in and around the Federal Capital Territory to heed the call of National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) by voluntarily donating blood at the National Hospital Abuja to save the lives of survivors.

"Seek foreign help to end boko haram" - Atiku tells Jonathan

Abuja Bombing: While we were weeping, Olisah Metuh was campaigning

By Ehi Ekhator

Nigeria got the shock of their lives on Sunday and Monday when Boko haram killed about 60 innocent Nigerians in some part of Maiduguri, and killed more than 70 and injured more than 120 people at a Nyanya park, a suburb of Abuja on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Nigerians, families of those who lost their lives and injured where running around trying to see their loved ones; the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA were doing everything possible to manage the disaster, then one of the Nigerian political dog, a Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, released a press statement blaming the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) over the bomb explosion.

In his statement, he claimed that the attacks are politically motivated. A statement President Jonathan earlier said that caused uproar among Nigerians requesting him to name the source and those involved, till today, we haven’t gotten anything from Mr. President.

Mr. Metuh went on to say that Nigerians are aware of the utterances of the APC, he stood ground on the accusation that APC is behind the past and present attacks. What stops Mr. Metuh from telling Nigerians who are involved?

He said: “We stand by our earlier statements that these attacks on our people are politically motivated by unpatriotic persons, especially those in the APC, who have been making utterances and comments, promoting violence and blood-letting as a means of achieving political control.

“Nigerians are also aware of utterances by certain APC governors which have been aimed at undermining our security forces and emboldening insurgents against the people.

Olisah Metuh

“Those who have been promoting violence through their utterances can now see the monster they have created. They can now see the end product of their comments; a country flowing daily with the blood of the innocent.

“The question is; how do they feel when they see the mangled and blood-soaked bodies of their victims? How do they feel when they hear the voices of the dying and the injured?

“Of course they feel nothing. Their hearts have been hardened and they are embittered by the fact that they have been rejected by the people.

“They are bitter because the people have chosen to rally round the government they love and voted for; but must they chose the path of violence and bloodletting as a response to the wishes and aspiration of the people?”, the statement queried.

As we were fighting to digest his statement coupled with the thought of whose next on the Boko Haram’s list, the opposition party, APC came up with their own statement, probably to check the initial statement by Mr. Metuh.

Though I was expecting a fight, but this time, Lai Mohammed, Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disappointed me. In his statement, he admonished the PDPs for trivializing and politicizing the incident.

Lai Mohammed, APC

A moment Nigerians were crying over great loss was the same time Olisah Metuh came up with his false and LACK OF EVIDENCE accusation.

I wouldn’t blame the APCs who said the PDPs are desperate to win the next election by politicizing everything to catch the heart of Nigerians.

He said ”The PDP and the government it leads at the centre should realise that this issue is beyond politics and partisanship, and should reach out to other stakeholders to help find a way to end the insurgency that has now defied all measures, including a state of emergency.

”Trying to blame the opposition for the attack, as the harebrained PDP has irresponsibly done even when the bodies of the victims are still lying in the morgue, cannot advance a genuine push to end the insurgency,” the party said.

”PDP is so desperate that it will stop at nothing to plunge Nigeria into chaos just to achieve its objective of clinging to power at all costs. Its baseless and infantile accusation, at a time of great national pain, may be a ploy to instigate a clampdown against the opposition.

”We are therefore calling on all our members, and indeed all the good people of Nigeria, to be vigilant in the days ahead,” the party said.

Later, the SIT ON THE FENCE All Progressives Congress Chieftain, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode released his own statement but only advised the government to crush the insurgents soon. But what caught my attention was the same statement that said THOSE BEHIND IT WILL SOON BE EXPOSED. Does this mean everybody believes someone is behind the insurgents? Does this mean the Nigerian government knows what’s killing her citizens and refused to do something? Does this mean that it is not time to reveal who is behind it?

Read Fani’s statement: “I condemn the bomb blast that took place in Abuja today. The carnage was terrible. Those that are secretly behind Boko Haram and that employ the use of terror for political ends will soon be exposed. Once again I call on the government to crush the terrorists and to protect the Nigeria n people. May the souls of those that lost their lives rest in peace.”

Boko Haram is getting closer to Aso Rock and who knows what would happen next? Last month, it was an attempted jailbreak at the SSS headquarters in Abuja where 21 detainees (Boko Haram) were said to have been killed. What one could not understand was, how did 21 die? How did one person who overpowered a trained SSS combat a full team of SSS and soldiers put together? If one SSS was overpowered, how did 21 die? Where the 21 suspects with guns? Anyways, that was what people were told, and the man who took a close picture of the incident was arrested and detained for more than 10 days. Was that necessary if it was just a jailbreak as speculated?

Now it is a suburb of Abuja and soon, it would be the heart of Abuja. Maybe they would attack the Presidential villa with all their might. When this happened, Nigerians should start packing their things and go to the nearest country as IT IS FINISHED.

Nigeria politicians are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians who, I guess out of fear, cannot stand for themselves. The fear of losing their lives, fear of betrayal, and fear of lack of confidence has pinned them down in the same position for more than 30 years of misrule.

When a gunman attacked a school in United State, The President of the United State of America, Barrack Obama cried like a baby, he has oppositions but never sent words to them at the point of mourning. He empathized with the families and sworn to bring the perpetrators to book which he did within a week.

Instead of Nigeria politicians to join hands together in order to end the blood thirsty animals created by them, they have chosen to win election with the blood of Nigerians.

Abuja Bombing: While we were weeping, Olisah Metuh was campaigning