Henry Okah won't be extradited

News 24 (SAPA)

11 Feb 2011

Henry Okah won't be extradited

Johannesburg - The Nigerian investigation team will not be extraditing terror accused Henry Okah, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Friday.

"The Nigerian investigation team said they have no intention of extraditing Okah so the prosecution will happen here in SA," said spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.

Okah's case was remanded in the Johannesburg magistrate's court on Friday.

Mhaga said investigations were at an "advanced stage" and the NPA was hoping that they would be completed by Okah's next court appearance on April 18.

Magistrate Hein Louw said proceedings were delayed because "Okah is ill and the prosecution had other important things to do".

"He will remain in custody," he added.

Okah was denied bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court late last year.

He faces charges of terrorism, relating to the October 1 twin car bombing in Abuja, Nigeria, which killed 12 people and injured 36.

Okah failed to convince the court that he was not the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, which claimed responsibility for the Independence Day bombings.