Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing caused drama when he attempted to commit suicide during his court hearing today October 6, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Mr. Okah, a brother to Henry Okah, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation Niger Delta, MEND, is standing trial on charges of terrorism.
He had sought the permission of the judge on Tuesday to speak on what he termed “endless trial”, as his counsel was absent in court.
The judge granted the oral application and permitted Mr. Okah to speak for about five minutes.
According to reports, he said in an emotion laden voice:
“I have been incarcerated for about five years now and I have a family to cater for.
“My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father and I am tired of this endless trial.
“I really do not know what I have done to be treated this way.
“Is it not better to die than to wait and be messed up this way?” he asked.
Immediately after Mr. Okah ended his speech, he grabbed a nearby chair in the courtroom with which he made repeated but futile attempts to break a window in order to create an opening through which he could jump down from the court room located on the third floor of the five-storey building.
He was pulled back by security operatives, lawyers and other litigants who were there for their own respective cases. The chair with which he attempted to break the window was collected from him after he was overpowered and Justice Kolawole promptly adjourned the suit till October 20.
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