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Okah’s Legal Team Withdraws Representation
The lead counsel of Henry Okah’s legal team yesterday at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg announced the team’s withdrawal from the terrorism case.
Okah is the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).
Defence counsel, Lucky Multulanta told the trial Judge, Neels Claassen that they were withdrawing from the case to allow a new legal team take over the trial of the case that might go to appeal and beyond in the coming days and months.
“Having discussed with my client, we came to agreement that it is appropriate for us to step down from handling the matter and allow a new legal team to take over from the mitigation of sentence to the appeal court hearing.
“My client has the right to change his legal team, and now he has decided to change the legal team representing him in this case, we are both happy about the decision,’’ Multulanta said.
Our correspondent reports that the defence counsel had asked the court to grant them postponement to call at least five witnesses from Nigeria and the U.S. of America to testify at the mitigation of sentence hearing.
Justice Claassen granted the defence the postponement for Feb. 28 to March 4 to call their witnesses.
“We have experienced a lot of frustration in getting out witnesses to come to South Africa to testify on the mitigation of sentence for my client
“I don’t know the reason why it is difficult for the South Africa Embassy in Nigeria to issue visas to our witnesses. We have made all effort to get the visas but up till now their visas have not been issued,’’ Multulanta said.
Justice Claassen expressed his disappointment in the withdrawal of Okah’s legal team.
“On the last sitting of the court I told you that there will be no further postponement in this case, now you are coming to announce your withdrawal from the case.
“I must tell you that I am very disappointed about this decision, how am I sure that is not a deliberate attempt to further delay the administration of justice.
“I just hope this is not a tactic to further delay the court processes, both of you may be happy about the change of the legal team, but it is against the legal procedure for you to take such decisions after several postponements.
“Changing the mainstream at this is stage is a very serious thing to do. I have to show my displeasure about the way and manner you have handled the case,’’ Claassen said.
Prosecuting counsel, Shauns Abrahams, told the court that the change in the legal team is aimed at frustrating court proceeding.
“My Lord, this sudden change in legal team of the accused is a deliberate attempt by him to frustrate the court proceeding.
“The defence counsel approached the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria for Visas to visit Nigeria and talk to their witnesses on Feb. 12, and the officials at the embassy asked them to come back the following day for their visas. But up till now they have not gone back for their visas.
“Only for the legal team to say they are having problem getting to their witnesses, this is all attempt to frustrate administration of justice,’’ Abrahams said.
The judge ruled that the accused has the right to change his lawyer at will.
“In as much as I am not happy about the change of legal team at this stage of the proceeding, I must say the accused person has the right to change his legal team at will.
“But I must say this is going to be the very last time this case will be adjourned,’’ Claassen said.
The new lawyer, Gerrit Miller asked the court for an adjournment to allow him prepare and consult with his client.
Claassen adjourned hearing in the matter to March 18 to March 20.
“This is really the final adjourment, I will grant your application for this first and final adjournment, you must tell your client that I will no longer tolerate any further adjournment even if he decides to change his legal team again at the 11 hour,’’ Claassen said.
Our correspondent recalls that Okah, the convicted fractional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), was found guilty of a 13 count charge of conspiracy to commit terrorism by masterminding two car bomb attack in Abuja on October 1, 2010.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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