Just In! Federal High Court Strikes Out Independence Day Bombing Charge Against Charles Okah

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out one of the charges brought against the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing, Charles Okah.

Charles Okah is a member of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and the brother of Henry Okah who was the leader of the group. Justice Gabriel Kolawole who presided over the case said the it was dismissed as a result of the inability of the prosecution to prove that President Goodluck Jonathan, who was at the Eagle Square during the bombing, was the target of the blast or was intimidated by the attack.

According to him, the evidence presented failed to prove that Goodluck Jonathan was sneaked out of the eagle square, venue of the 50th anniversary celebration of Nigeria’s independence.The Justice also said the evidence did not prove a case of treason as contained in count one of the charge.

Going further, he posited that the evidence cited by the prosecution did not prove that governors were targeted in a blast during a meeting on March 15, 2010 in Warri, Delta state. Kolawole also said the governors were intimidated.