Henry Okah to serve 24 year jail term in South Africa

A Constitutional Court has ruled that a prominent leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta ( MEND), Henry
Emomotimi Okah, will have to serve out his 24 year jail term for
twin bombings in Nigeria in 2010 in South Africa.

Giving the ruling on Thursday, the Court removed a lifeline by
the Supreme Court of Appeal which found that South African Courts
only have jurisdiction to try terrorists who are present in the
country at the time of an attack.

The National Director of Public Prosecutions had secured the
conviction and sentence in 2013, but the state appealed the Appeal
Court’s decision.

Justice Cameron delivered the unanimous judgement, dismissing
Okah’s cross appeals.

“The irregularity regarding consular access did not result in a
failure of justice and that Mr Okah’s convictions are therefore
safe. The result is that court sets aside the judgment of the
Supreme Court of Appeal and dismisses Mr Okah’s challenge to his
conviction – the result is that all the convictions the High Court
are reinstated together with the sentence of 24 years that it
imposed,” Justice Cameron read.

A Constitutional Court has ruled that a prominent leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta ( MEND), Henry
Emomotimi Okah, will have to serve out his 24 year jail term for
twin bombings in Nigeria in 2010 in South Africa.

Giving the ruling on Thursday, the Court removed a lifeline by
the Supreme Court of Appeal which found that South African Courts
only have jurisdiction to try terrorists who are present in the
country at the time of an attack.

The National Director of Public Prosecutions had secured the
conviction and sentence in 2013, but the state appealed the Appeal
Court’s decision.

Justice Cameron delivered the unanimous judgement, dismissing
Okah’s cross appeals.

“The irregularity regarding consular access did not result in a
failure of justice and that Mr Okah’s convictions are therefore
safe. The result is that court sets aside the judgment of the
Supreme Court of Appeal and dismisses Mr Okah’s challenge to his
conviction – the result is that all the convictions the High Court
are reinstated together with the sentence of 24 years that it
imposed,” Justice Cameron read.