Nigerian suspect to be tried for terrorism

AP , Thursday 25 Aug 2011

Nigerian faces charges of planning to harm Nigeria's president by detonating car bombs last October while in exile in South Africa

Prosecutors say a Nigerian suspect will be tried at South Africa's High Court in January for terrorism and attempting to harm Nigeria's president in deadly car bombings last year.

Henry Okah was arrested after the deadly 1 October bombings in Nigeria's capital that killed 12 people during independence celebrations.

Prosecution spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said Okah was presented Wednesday with a five-count indictment charging he orchestrated the attacks from exile in South Africa.

The 46-year-old Okah has denied involvement in the attacks. The explosions were claimed by a militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region that Okah says he sympathises with but does not lead.

Lawyer Rudi Krause said his client has been in solitary confinement since February, when authorities said they found eight cell phones in his cell.

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