Okah Attempts Jailbreak In South Africa

A former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, who was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, was caught attempting to break out of the Leeuwkop prison in Johannesburg, South Africa recently.

According to reports, Okah was the leader of a pack of five inmates attempting the jailbreak. Among his accomplices was infamous South African convicted serial rapist and murderer, Jaco Steyn, who is serving five life sentences in addition to a 170 year sentence.

Okah was on March 26, 2013 sent to 24 years in prison by a South African court sitting in Johannesburg.

The judge, Neels Claassen, found Okah guilty of 13 offences, including the setting off of two bombs in Abuja and Warri, Delta State, on October 1, 2010. He was also sentenced for threatening the South African government after his arrest.

Back home, the MEND over which Okah presided, said it was shocked by the sentence, saying it was a planned punishment by both the Nigerian and South African governments.

 The two major bomb attacks in Nigeria for which Okah was convicted in Nigeria were carried out to embarrass President Goodluck Jonathan, Claaseen said while sentencing the accused.

Source: Legit.ng