*FG wants undertaking for his return
* We are dealing with a very dangerous situation-his lawyer
By Wahab Abdullahi
GERMANY, Israel and Egypt are not disposed to accepting ailing Henry Okah for medical treatment on the strength of a condition by the Federal Government that they sign an undertaking to return him to Nigeria after his treatment. They have accordingly declined to have himon their shores for treatment.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, leader, who is being touted by government as a beneficiary of its amnesty, is currently facing secret trial in Jos for treason and treasonable felony.
Henry Okah with wife
Interior Minister, Major-General Godwin Abbe, is scheduled to meet him in his detention camp and formally extend the amnesty to him. Okah’s lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, told Sunday Vanguard that it was not even automatic that he would accept the amnesty because as he (Falana) said, Okah wants to see first “in black and white” what the amnesty is all about.
At the last hearing of Okah’s case on Friday, his prosecutor, Mr. Salihu Ibrahim, said efforts to fly the accused person abroad had not yielded fruits because none of the countries contacted was willing to accept him.
He did not say why, but when Sunday Vanguard contacted Mr. Falana, he said it was because of Nigeria’s insistence that the countries should sign an undertaking to return him to Nigeria at the completion of his treatment. The countries declined to sign any such undertaking prompting government to opt for the importation of the equipment and experts for the treatment. Mr. Falana is now faulting this option, saying it is a long process.
“We are dealing with a very dangerous situation. Getting experts and equipment into the country would take several weeks for the process to complete”, he said. “We are dealing with a life threatening situation as his two kidneys may pack up any moment from now.
We were flabbergasted when the government at the last proceeding said there was no country ready to accept him. Before that time, when we asked about the development on taking him abroad for treatment from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, they always referred us to the SSS office for clarification.
“So, we were taken aback when the government said in court that they had contacted three countries and they rejected him. If we had been taken into confidence by the government over this, we would have arranged for his travelling.
What the government wants from those countries where he could be treated was that they would sign an undertaking to ensure his return to Nigeria, and that would be difficult. Our application before the court is that if the government is not ready to treat him, his family would be ready to do that.
“The application was made pursuant to Regulation 12 of the Prison Act. So, let them do something to treat the man before it is too late. Five weeks ago, the learned prosecution counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice told the court that all arrangements had been concluded to fly him (Okah) out of the country for treatment.
After this, they requested his wife, Azuka, to rush down from South Africa where she resides to come back and submit her passport with a view to accompanying her husband for treatment”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Falana, at Friday’s hearing of the court, regretted the delay in the planned visit of the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abbe, to discuss the issue of amnesty with Okah.
He said his client needed to be alive to enjoy the amnesty or to even continue to face trial. He told Justice Mohammed Liman that his earlier order that Okah be given medical attention had not been obeyed.
The court had given the order based on the medical report of a government surgeon which recommended specialist medical attention for him (Okah) because of his bad left kidney. Responding to the excuse given by the DPP for not carrying out the order, Falana complained that the defence team was not taken into confidence on the efforts made as claimed by the prosecution.
He said government should either take him abroad for treatment as ordered by the court or release him to his parents to take care of and be made to sign an undertaken to produce him for trial in accordance with the Prisons Act.
Justice Liman therefore gave government one week to conclude arrangements for the proper treatment of the accused or the court would be forced to consider the option suggested by the defence. He adjourned the case to July 17. Okah was driven to the court amidst the usual tight security contrary to expectations that the atmosphere would be more relaxed because of the amnesty issue.
Baba go slow Yar’adua, I hope u know this illness falls into ur constituency, Kidney/renal problem. Is it in 2090 that Nigeria (Giant of African) 140 million be able to treat ordinary renal problem. You guys arent ashamed of going to seek medical attention from Egypt. Where is all the oil money going to.
Its high time u stop embarrasing nigerian. All the 36 states + Abuja plus all our resources put together, we cant treat just one illness. What can bost of. Maybe, impeachement experts and setting committees and setting further committees to make recommendation based on the outcome of the previous committee. Then set a third committee to outline what the president would do. I just tire 4 u, baba go slow. Nija open ur eyes in 2011. Dont vote baba go slow. nonesense
I read grand masters article and I agreed with him, they may be some truth to that.Could it be that they systematically poison political detainees.I hope the mend will now understand that south easterners are purely marginalised
THESE LEADERS MUST STOP TALKING OF AMNESTY AS AMNESTY IS FOR THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES. THE PEOPLE OF THE NIGER DELTA DID NOT COMMIT ANY CRIME BECAUSE WE HAVE CURDE OIL AND GAS. WE HAVE BEEN SUSTAINING THE WHOLE COUNTRY. ABUJA AND EVIRONS WAS BUILT WITH THE MONEY FROM THE NIGER DELTA. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD USE THE SAME SPEED THEY USED IN BUILDING ABUJA, TO BUILD AND DEVELOPE THE NIGER DELTA. WE SHOULD STOP BEING APOLOGETIC AS IF WE ARE THE OFFENDERS. THE PEOPLE OF THE NIGER DELTA ARE THE VICTIMS. IF THEY ARE CRIMINALS IN THE NIGER DELTA, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO AFTER THEM. THEY SHOULD NAME AND SHAME THEM, INCLUDING THEIR BACKERS AND COLLABORATORS.
WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE NIGER DELTA IS IMMEDIATE MASSIVE ECCONMIC DEVELOPEMENT OF THE AREA AND iMMIDIATE AND MASSIVE ECCONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NIGER DELTA. USE THE EXCESS CRUDE MONEY, USE PART OF THE EXTERNAL RESERVE, INTRODUCE WINDFAL TAX ON THE COMPANIES THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND USE THE MONEY TO PROGRESS AND DEVELOPE THE NIGER DELTA. WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE MARTIAL PLAN IN THE NIGER DELTA. PURSUE THIS MARTIAL PLAN, WITH THE SAME ZEAL, VIGOR AND ENTHUSIAZM, AS WAS USED IN BUILDING ABUJA AND ENVIRONS. NO MORE SLOGANS, NO MORE TALKS, NO MORE TITLE TATLE, NO MORE INFANTILE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE NIGER DELTA. NO MORE POSTPONNING OF ACTIONS, NO MORE PROMOSES. IF THEY ARE CRIMINALS JAIL THEM, NAME AND SHAME THEM. NAME THEIR SUPPORTERS AND COLLABORATORS. WE WANT ACTION! ACTION!! ACTION!!! AND WE WANT IT NOW! NOW! NOW!!! NOW!!!. MISS THIS OPPORTUNUTY TO RIGHT THE PAST WRONGS AND MISS IT FOR EVER. MAKE HISTORY MR PRESIDENT.
Mr. President now that you have shown good faith, you must take the next bold step. Mr. President you must now put tuor money where your mouth is.
We want ACTION, ACTION ACTION from now on. Mr. President you have taken a very bold step and you must continue as relaxing is not an option NOW.
The problem in the Niger Delta was caused by the followings,
1. The International Multi National companies in the Niger Delta. These companies operate as cow boys and with reckless abandon, They have destroyed the environment, the waters, the lands of the Niger Delta. They polluted the waters, lands and the environment and as a result, the people can not farm on their lands or fish in their waters, which is their main occupations. The people are dieing dailly of diseases, caused by the polution to the environment. These multi nationals build cheap infrastrutures like pipe lines etc., without regards to internationally accepted norms and good practices. There will never do such things in other parts of the world, where they are operating, otherwise they will pay very dearly for such horrible practices. The multi Nationals have made a lot of money from these sharp practices, at the expence of the lives of the people of the Niger Delta.
2. The next offenders are federal and state governments of all shades, both past and present, who have made lot of money by ignoring and encouraging with nods, the multi National companies to get away with murder. .
3. The third group are the so called selfish leaders, or do i say dealears of the Niger Delta, who have also made a lot of money from the sufferings of the people of The Niger Delta, Some of the them and their collaborators, sponsor the criminals, to forment and cause a lot of sufferings to the people of the Niger Delta.
4. The President must without futher delay, publish the names of those, who have been sponsoring these criminals in the Niger Delta. The President must name and shame them.
Now that you have given amnesty, to the genuine agitators, we should now have a truth and reconcilliation commitee, so that we can learn a lesson from all these.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DO NOW!!
The federal government should introduce, a wind fall tax on the huge profits, the multi nationals made over the period and use ALL the money for the IMMEDIATE developement of the Niger Delta and the ecconomic empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta. This is what is done, even in developed countries. In Great Britain, when the Labour came into power, they introdued the wind fall tax, inorder to claw back some of the huge profits, the companies made, when the Conservative party in government, sold very cheaply all government companies during the Privatization process. ALL the money realised was used to creat new jobs and train the unemployed. This move was very popular with the British public. You should bear in mind that, most of the companies, that made the huge profits in The Niger Delta, are British and American companies. This move will be popular in Nigeria and these British and American companies will not fault it. All you have to do is, to refer them to what happened in the United kingdom.
ALL the money realised from the excess crude, which was got any way, from the Niger Delta, should be used for the immediate ecconomic development and empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta.
The federal government should draw down now, 30% of its external revenue for the immediate ecconomic developement of the Niger Delta and ecconomic empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta. The ferderal government should not give the usual excuse, that this draw down will affect the value of the naira, as this is a price that, we should pay for the peace and stability of the Niger Delta and Nigeria. ALL THESE MUST BE DONE NOW!! Mr. President do all these and you have solved the problems in The Niger Delta permanently. If you do ALL of these history and prosterity will remember you very kindly.
MR PRESIDENT I HOPE THAT THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA, WITH THIS AMNESTY OF A THING. IT APPEARS THAT THE WAY YOU ARE PURSUING AND PROGRESSING IT, IS BECOMMING WORRYING AND I HOPE YOU ARE NOT UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE, FORM THE CORRUPT AND INDICTED EX GOVERNORS, AS MOST OF THEM ARE THE BACKERS AND COLLABORATORS OF THE CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN THE NIGER DELTA. THEY ARE MAKING BLOOD MONEY IN ADDITION TO THE ONE THEY LOOTED AND STOLE FROM THE TREASURY. THESE CORRUPT AND INDICTED EX GOVERNORS AND THEIR COLLABORATORS STAND TO BENEFIT MASSIVELY FROM THIS BLANKET AMNESTY OF A THING. YOU SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THE UNIFORMED PERSONS YOU SENT TO THE NIGER DELTA AS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF NIGERIA, TO MENTAIN THE PEACE AND SOME OF THEM WERE SLAUGHTERED IN COLD BLOOD BY THE CRIMINALS.
THESE CORRUPT AND INDICTED EX GOVERNORS, ARE THE SAME PERSONS, WHO CLAIMED THAT THEY BANK ROLED YOUR ELECTION AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY WILL ALSO, BANK ROLE YOU 2011 ELECTION. MR PRESIDENT YOU MUST CLEAR THE AIR. NIGER DELTA DOES NOT WANT AMNESTY, AS AMNESTY IS FOR THOSE THAT COMMITED CRIMES, WE IN THE NIGER DELTA DID NOT COMMIT ANY CRIME BY HAVING CRUDE OIL AND GAS. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE PATRONISING US AND THIS MUST STOP.
AMNESTY IS NOT AMNESTIA. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE NIGER DELTA IS IMMEDIATE MASSIVE ECCONMIC DEVELOPEMENT OF THE AREA AND IMMEDIATE AND MASSIVE ECCONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NIGER DELTA. USE THE EXCESS CRUDE MONEY, USE PART OF THE EXTERNAL RESERVE, INTRODUCE WINDFAL TAX ON THE COMPANIES THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND USE THE MONEY TO PROGRESS AND DEVELOPE THE NIGER DELTA. WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE MARTIAL PLAN IN THE NIGER DELTA. PURSUE THIS MARTIAL PLAN, WITH THE SAME ZEAL, VIGOR AND ENTHUSIAZM, AS WAS USED IN BUILDING ABUJA AND ENVIRONS. NO MORE SLOGANS, NO MORE TALKS, NO MORE TITLE TATLE, NO MORE INFANTILE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE NIGER DELTA. NO MORE POSTPONNING OF ACTIONS, NO MORE PROMOSES. IF THEY ARE CRIMINALS JAIL THEM, NAME AND SHAME THEM. NAME THEIR SUPPORTERS AND COLLABORATORS. WE WANT ACTION! ACTION!! ACTION!!! AND WE WANT IT NOW! NOW! NOW!!! NOW!!!. MISS THIS OPPORTUNUTY TO RIGHT THE PAST WRONGS AND MISS IT FOR EVER. MAKE HISTORY MR PRESIDENT. ABUJA WAS CREATED IN LESS THAN TEN YEARS, WITH MONEY MADE FROM THE NIGER DELTA, WHY NOT THE NIGER DELTA WHERE ALL THE MONEY OF NIGERIA WAS MADE, THIS INCLUDES EXCESS CURDE AND THE HUGE EXTERNAL RESERVE.
START THE IMMEDIATE MASSIVE DEVELOPEMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA NOW!!!!!!
Amnesty International has described the crisis in the Niger Delta as a “human rights tragedy,” saying that the people of the area have seen their human rights abused by oil companies which their government cannot hold to account. The group, in a report released on Tuesday, said the situation in the Niger Delta, home to 31 million people, has fuelled anger and conflict. “People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with, and wash in polluted water; they eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins – if they are lucky enough to still be able to find fish,” said the report. The report stated that the situation in the Niger Delta provides a stark example of the lack of accountability of a government to its people, and of multinational companies’ almost total lack of accountability when it comes to the impact of their operations on human rights. The report titled, “Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta”, was presented by its Head of Business and Human Rights, Audrey Gaughran. It examined oil spills, gas flaring, waste dumping and other environmental impacts of the oil industry, stressing that evidence gathered on pollution and environment damage relates to the operations of Shell, the main oil company operating on land in the Niger Delta. The agency said that the human rights impact of pollution in the Niger Delta is greatly under-reported, adding that the majority of people in the area depend on the natural environment for their food and livelihood, particularly through agriculture and fisheries. Amnesty blames both the government and multi-national oil giants for the rights abuses in sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous country.
MR. PRESIDENT YOU ARE NOT LISTENING. YOU SHOULD USE NIGER DELTA MONEY TO DEVELOPE THE NIGER DELTA IMMEDIATELY. ABUJA AND ENVIRONS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPED WITH THE MONEY FROM THE NIGER DELTA. THE SAME INTEREST AND SPEED THAT WAS USED TO DEVELOPE ABUJA SHOULD BE USED TO DEVELOPE THE NIGER DELTA. THIS WILL BE A WIN WIN FOR NIGERIA. THE CRISES WILL STOP, INVESTMENTS WILL RUSH IN, THE YOUTHS WILL BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, NIGERIA WILL MAXIMISE HER CRUDE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTIONS,TOURISM WILL FLORISH, NIGERIAN INTELLECTUALS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE ABROAD WILL COME BACK TO NIGERIA AND CREATE A LOT OF JOBS. AS LITTLE AS 100,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND) POUNDS COULD ESTABLISH A SMALL COTTAGE INDUSTRY OF A SMALL FARM AND ABOUT SIX WELL PAID JOBS CAN BE CREATED. BY SIMPLE CALCULATION, ABOUT ONE MILLION NIGERIANS ABROAD CAN RAISE THIS TYPE OF MONEY. THAT IS ABOUT SIX MILLION NEW JOBS. MR. PRESIDENT LISTEN! LISTEN!! LISTEN!!! LISTEN!!!. TIME IS NOT ON OUR SIDE AND YOUR SIDE MAKE HASTE NOW!!!!!
MR. PRESIDENT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NIGER DELTA IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND GENOCIDE.
Bola Ige, Kudirat Abiola, Marshal Harry, Dikibo, among other prominent Nigerians died nothing happened-so Okar can die nothing will happen-may it not be so for Yaradua-he will regret to see the day okar-was allowed to die because of the oil resources of his forebearers-so what is all these stupid talk about amnesty about?-was it meant as a GREEK GIFT- for the cultist that Obj trained in the Niger Delta-or the militants-JTF is still on a killing spree in the region-while Yaradua preaches amnesty for the grave diggers-it was this same amnesty thing that Yaradua used in luring him into his gulag-not again–
Rtd Godwin Abbe/Military/Oil Companies agents can not detain Okah and other militants forever. Amnesty for whom? It’s a trap. MEND, keep on blasting the oil pipelines. Shell/Chevron/ExxonMobil behind Okah’s detention. Abbe as agent of oppressors. Shame. rtd Gen Abbe only took care of his family and has not contributed anything for ND freedom. MEND will get u someday. god will punish u. Lies, propaganda by PDP Abbe/Nwekes.
Funny how anybody in Fed govt custody develops kidney problems!
Think of it, how many reports on Niger Delter have been executed by Nigeria? How did Nigeria treat the three “Rs” declared at tne end of Biafran war in 1970?
There is no future if the past is forgotten.
what the North will gain from the crude oil in the Niger Delta is greater than the Niger Delta people so who is talking about Okah. Nigeria is one because the crude is still there any day it dries up the North will ask for Arewa. The Niger Delta should be allowed to control their crude and give Nigeria only 20% or let every body go to his house. ENOUGH OF ALL THESE RUBBISH.
The fg should forget the trial- they should extend the amnesty without further delay. Maybe (and by that i mean maybe) they will convey their sincerity to the militants. But if Okah dies in their custody, it will be a big blow to the amnesty plan.
henry okah is a human being. Don’t let him die!
Hmmmmmmmm…….. Wonders shall never end in Nigeria o! Abeg,that man should NOT die o! He has a family and loved ones.Send him to USA for medical attention.
Nigeria govt is dishonest,uncaring,cunning,untrustworthy,etc