S’African court defers Okah’s sentencing

Justice Neels Claassen of Johannesburg High Court has adjourned the pleading for mitigation of sentence in Henry Okah’s trial February 28.

Claassen gave the ruling after a further appeal by Okah’s counsel for adjournment of the case to allow all the witnesses to make their pleas for mitigation sentence on Okah, who was convicted on January 21.

The judge said the adjournment would be the final to allow all the witnesses called by Okah to testify in the pleading for mitigation of sentence to ensure that justice was done.

“I will grant you this request for the last time. I’m granting you three days from February 28, March 1 and March 4, to call  all your witnesses to testify in mitigation or aggravation of sentence.

“You have to ensure that all your witnesses appear in court in those three days, and if for any reason any of the witnesses fails to appear, the court will go ahead with the pronouncement of the sentence.

“I cannot entertain any further delay in this trial due to the nature of the case and its security implication for South Africa and Nigeria governments,” Claassen said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okah’s attorney requested for the adjournment of hearing for mitigation of sentence to enable him to produce in court all the witnesses willing to testify on behalf of Okah.

The adjournment is also to allow Okah to engage with the Nigerian government in the peace process in the Niger Delta.

Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of conspiracy to commit terrorism by masterminding two car bomb attacks in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on October 1, 2010.

The South African judicial system, like most systems, allows convicted persons to plead for mitigation of sentence before the trial judge makes his pronouncement.