The trial of the four suspects accused of being masterminds of the Independent Day twin bomb blasts in Abuja almost came to a tragic end as the prime suspect Charles Okah slumped as soon as he stepped into the dock to answer charges of alleged treason brought against him by the Federal Government.
Before the frightening incident, the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had asked to know if indeed Okah was strong and fit to stand his trial after observing that the accused was looking pale and sick.
He accordingly ordered for a chair to be brought for Okah to sit down but it was rather too late as he crashed massively on the floor before the chair arrived.
The shock that trailed the incident forced the court to stand down the proceedings awaiting the prison medical team.
Justice Kolawole later in his chamber ordered that Okah be moved to the National Hospital , Abuja to receive proper and comprehensive medical attention at the expense of the Federal Government and that he should be under the security of the State Security Service (SSS).
He proceeded to adjourn the matter till January 27, 2011 for continuation of trial with an order directing the chief medical director of the hospital to communicate to the court in writing as to whether Okah was in good condition to face trial.
At about 12: 15 p.m., an ambulance belonging to the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) arrived the Federal High Court premises from where the accused person was conveyed to the National Hospital, Abuja.
Charles Okah and three others were standing trial over their alleged involvement in the October 1, 2010 bomb blasts which occurred at the vicinity very close to Eagle Square in Abuja where the nation was hosting dignitaries during her 50th independence anniversary, an act which was reported to have sent many innocent people into early grave.
Counsel to the accused persons, Ugochukwu Ezekiel and O. O. Otemu had earlier filed a bail application and argued same before the court while the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) vehemently opposed the application, saying that the matter was one that bothered on state security and that such offence was not a bailable one.
After hearing the argument of all the parties, the court upheld the argument of Izinyon and thereby refused to admit the four accused persons to bail but rather promised a speedy trial to give fair hearing and justice to both the accused and the state.
Having refused their bail application, the court moved into trial of the accused and the prosecuting counsel applied to amend the charge by substituting the year under which the accused was brought from 1990 to 2004.
The application was granted and the prosecution moved ahead to read the charge to the accused to take a fresh plea but the defence counsel opposed to the taking of fresh plea, saying that they hadsome documents to present but which were yet to be certified.
Justice Kolawole then refused the opposition and ordered that the accused should be allowed to take their plea.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge after which the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday for continuation of trial but which could not hold due to the poor health condition of Charles Okah.
The prosecution had slammed two separate charges against the accused persons. The prosecution filed eight count charges concerning the October 1 bomb blasts involving explosion of dynamite near Eagle Square, Abuja and one count charge of 22 paragraphs bordering on explosion at a post amnesty seminar organized by Vanguard Newspapers in Delta Sate where governors of Delta, Edo and Imo states were in attendance.
In the first charge, the prosecution accused Charles Tombra Okah, Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo (aka General Gbokos) thus:
Count 1: “That you Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze between the months of September 2010 and October 2010 both months inclusive, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court deliberately and intentionally participated in the commission of terrorists act, to wit, causing the explosion of dynamite near the Eagle Square Abuja, venue of Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (establishment) Act 2004.
The second charge of one count reads: “That you Charles Okah, Obi Nwabueze, Tiemkemfa Francis Osuwo (aka General Gbokos) between 13 day of March, 2010 and 14 October 2010 both days inclusive at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and diverse places in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of the court, did levy war against the state in order to intimidate or over awe the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.
Specifically in the 17th paragraph of the one count charge, Federal Government said “sometime in March, 2010, Obi Nwabueze took Bassey Umoren to Emmanuel Allison’s house in Port Harcourt where the false compartment were constructed into the booth of the two cars which concealed with time regulated explosive devices that were detonated at Government House Annex, Warri for the purpose of levying war against the state.”
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