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Nigerian Bombing Suspect Bail Hearing Resumes Friday

   Joe DeCapua 21 October 2010

   In  South  Africa, the bail hearing for Nigerian bombing suspect Henry
   Okah  has  been  adjourned  once  again.       Okah was arrested in
   connection  with  the terrorist car bombings early this month in Abuja
   during Nigeriaâs Independence Day celebrations.

   VOA  correspondent  Scott  Bobb,  in  Johannesburg,  says,  âThis bail
   hearing,  which is nowâ¦a week long, is basically because Mr. Okah has
   some  very  good  lawyers,  who  are  questioning  the  prosecution on
   everything.  The prosecution wants to deny bail, saying that he could
   run  away,  leave  the  country  and  also  could  intimidate possible
   witnesses.â

   Defense  lawyers  want  the  prosecution to produce some evidence that
   Okah was involved in the blasts.

   âThe prosecution is reluctant to do so,â says Bobb, âsaying this would
   compromise its ongoing investigation.â

   Sneak peak

   While not laying out much evidence at the hearing, the prosecution has
   indicated how it intends to proceed.

   âThey  say  that  Mr.  Okah  and individuals in Nigeria exchanged text
   messages,  emails  and  phone  calls.   And  today, they said that he
   ordered  his people in Nigeria to purchase the two cars that were used
   in the bomb attacks.â

   Bobb  says  that  news  appeared  to  take  Okah  and his attorneys by
   surprise.

   The  judge has told the prosecution that it must present some evidence
   of these allegations if he is to deny Okah bail.

   Resources for a long legal fight

   The  hearing  resumes Friday and could go on for some time, Bobb says,
   because of Okahâs good legal representation and resources.

   âHenry  Okah is a successful businessman.  He owns a security company
   in  Johannesburg.   (He)  came here, appealed for asylum, was granted
   asylum  on the basis of his ties to the Niger Delta and did eventually
   obtain citizenship,â he says.

   However,  Bobb  adds,  âThe (South African) Department of Home Affairs
   says  itâs  investigating  this,  saying  he  possibly used fraudulent
   documents to obtain this citizenship.â

   While  Okah acknowledges heâs a leader among his people, he denies any
   current  relationship  with MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of
   the Niger Delta.

   Taking terrorism seriously

   Itâs  not  known  whether  South  Africa  will  extradite Okah once it
   finishes its case against him.

   âItâs  clear  that  the South African authorities want to pursue their
   case.   It  looks  like  there  has been communication and sharing of
   information  between  investigators  in  Nigeria and in South Africa.Â
   And  South Africa â the government, the state â feels it has a case to
   make,â he says.

   Bobb says South Africa has a good track record against terrorism.  No
   attacks  occurred  during the World Cup, which was held in the country
   this year.

   âThey  want  to  maintain that record.  So, theyâre very keen to show
   that  they  will  rigorously  and  vigorously prosecute and pursue any
   suspected terrorists,â he says.

   Meanwhile,  in  Nigeria,  five  suspects  have  been  arrested  in the
   bombings,  which  killed  about a dozen people.  The suspects include
   Charles Okah, the brother of Henry Okah.

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