Nigeria’s Independence Day bomber jailed for Life

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

Few days after a South African court found Mr. Henry Okah guilty for the 2010 Independence Day twin bomb blasts in Abuja, Nigeria, Justice Gabriel kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced a close associate of Okah, Mr. Edmund Ebiware, to life imprisonment. Okah too faces life imprisonment when sentenced next month.

Ebiware was alleged to have been aware of the plots to bomb the federal capital city without informing any of the security agencies.

He was initially arraigned along side Mr. Charles Okah,younger brother to Mr. Henry Okah, Obi Nwabueze and Tiemkefa Osuvwo who later died in Kuje Prison.

Ebiware had asked for his case to be separated from the others in the course of the trial, a request which the court accepted and his charge was severed from Charles Okah and the others.

He had told the court then that his offence was different from the three others.

The suspects were accused of levying war against the State in order to intimidate President Goodluck Jonathan, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.

They were also accused of terrorism and conspiracy to commit treason, contrary to Section 40 (2) of the Criminal Code CAP 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.

Ebiware was specifically accused of withholding information on the planned attack by not using reasonable means to leak the information to the President and Peace Officer to foil the planned attack.

The court held that with all the evidence brought by the prosecuting counsel, it was evident that the convict had been communicating with Henry Okah which he could not deny while being cross examined during his trial.

Justice Kolawole also held that it s established from all the evidence before him that the convict had a foreknowledge of the impending bomb attacks going by the communication which had existed between him and Mr. Henry Okah

The court found Mr. Ebiware guilty having acted contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act which requires anyone in possession of such information to take a step to inform a peace officer.

“The prosecution has successfully proved beyond doubt the three count charge filed against the accused. The accused is found guilty as charged”.

Ebiware’s lawyer, Mr. Godwin Uche, pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client who he pointed out to the court, is young man that is still in his early thirties, with a wife and two children who are depending on him adding that Ebiware did not have any record of crime before now.

Pronouncing the sentence, Justice Kolawole stated that in the light of all the court have found with regards to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that it doubts if it has the discretion to pronounce anything less than what the National Assembly has provided for, which is life imprisonment and consequently sentenced Ebiware to life imprisonment.

“The convict subject to report of good conduct by the Superintendent of prison shall after 32 years take such evidence to the council on perogative of mercy for a parole” the court added.

Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Godwin Uche indicated that his client will be challenging the judgment as soon as he gets a clean copy of the judgment.