By Emma Amaize

DUTCH-Nigerian activist, Mr. Sunny Ofehe, standing trial in The Netherlands for allegedly plotting to blow up oil pipelines belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Nigeria, has told a Rotterdam Court, that he was not a terrorist and had never been involved in terrorist acts in his life.

The pre-trial proceedings, which was initially adjourned following argument on the admissibility of the case, had been suspended indefinitely.

Ofehe, founder of Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign, based in Rotterdam, told the court: “Three weeks ago, I was accused of being a terrorist and blowing up pipelines that belong to Shell in Nigeria. I have been a human rights activist all my life, following the principles of non-violence. I have never planned any terrorist acts in my life. I find both charges damaging to my name.”

Part of the terrorism charge against Ofehe was that he conspired with somebody to blow up a pipeline line in Ekpoma in Edo State, said to be supplying crude oil to Kaduna Refinery.

However, his lawyer, Ed Manders, said the defence team was taken by surprise with the new charge of terrorism, as the evidence and documents, codenamed, “Tokyo” upon which the prosecutor built his terrorism charges against Ofehe were not known to the defence.