By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, suspended the trial of the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bomb blast that killed 12  persons at Eagle Square in Abuja, Mr. Charles Okah.

File photo: Charles Okah being led out of Abuja Court.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole deferred the trial till March 10 to enable Okah, who is facing a terrorism charge alongside one Obi Nwabueze, to recuperate from knee surgery he underwent at the National Hospital in Abuja.

Owing to the surgery, Okah, who has been in detention at Kuje prison, Abuja could not attend the court proceeding.

Justice Kolawole earlier ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to provide tight security around the hospital where Okah is receiving treatment.

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, had on October 6 attempted to commit suicide while his trial was going on.

His effort to leap from a window in the court room which is situated on the third floor of the high court complex, was thwarted  by both lawyers and prison officials.

Before his attempt to jump through the window was foiled, Okah, who addressed the judge from the dock, expressed his frustration over what he described as his “endless trial.”

Okah specifically blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for his travails, saying: “My life has been put on hold,” noting that he was a victim of a highly dysfunctional criminal justice system.

“I have been incarcerated for about five years now, and I have a family to cater for.

“My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father.  I am tired of this endless trial,” he screamed shortly before he took a chair and smashed the glass covering the window.

Sequel to his action, the prosecution applied for him to be confined in chains throughout the trial, a request that was rejected by the court.

It will be recalled that one of Okah’s alleged accomplice, 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.

The accused persons were initially arraigned before the High Court on December 7, 2010 and subsequently re-arraigned on January 12, 2011.

Okah 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.

They were said to have 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 Okah 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 has so far called four witnesses to testify against the accused persons.