THE decision yesterday by convicted Nigerian terrorist Henry Okah's legal team to withdraw from the case in the Johannesburg High Court was labelled by the state as a delaying tactic.
Prosecutor Shaun Abrahams told Judge Neels Claasen that the decision by advocate Lucky Maunatlala to withdraw from the case, on the day mitigation of sentencing for Okah was supposed to be heard, was done deliberately to delay the sentencing of the Nigerian national.
Okah will now be represented by Gerrit Muller.
Maunatlala told Judge Claasen that witnesses had been called from Nigeria to come and testify, but there was a delay in the issuing of their visas and as result they were not yet in the country.
He added: "There was an agreement between ourselves and Mr Okah that at some point we would withdraw from the case."
His attorney, Tsietsi Majang, vehemently denied that the move was a delaying ploy. Abrahams was, however, not impressed.
"There was never any attempt to secure witnesses to come and testify. This is an attempt to frustrate the administration of justice," Abrahams said.
Judge Claasen also said he suspected that the move was to delay the sentencing.
He also warned Muller that there would no "second bite of the cherry".
Okah was found guilty of the 2010 Independence Day bombings in Abuja, Nigeria, where 12 people were killed and several others injured.
The matter was postponed to March 18, 19 and 20. - selebim@sowetan.co.za
Terrorist's legal team in 'a delaying tactic'
THE decision yesterday by convicted Nigerian terrorist Henry Okah's legal team to withdraw from the case in the Johannesburg High Court was labelled by the state as a delaying tactic.
Prosecutor Shaun Abrahams told Judge Neels Claasen that the decision by advocate Lucky Maunatlala to withdraw from the case, on the day mitigation of sentencing for Okah was supposed to be heard, was done deliberately to delay the sentencing of the Nigerian national.
Okah will now be represented by Gerrit Muller.
Maunatlala told Judge Claasen that witnesses had been called from Nigeria to come and testify, but there was a delay in the issuing of their visas and as result they were not yet in the country.
He added: "There was an agreement between ourselves and Mr Okah that at some point we would withdraw from the case."
His attorney, Tsietsi Majang, vehemently denied that the move was a delaying ploy. Abrahams was, however, not impressed.
"There was never any attempt to secure witnesses to come and testify. This is an attempt to frustrate the administration of justice," Abrahams said.
Judge Claasen also said he suspected that the move was to delay the sentencing.
He also warned Muller that there would no "second bite of the cherry".
Okah was found guilty of the 2010 Independence Day bombings in Abuja, Nigeria, where 12 people were killed and several others injured.
The matter was postponed to March 18, 19 and 20. - selebim@sowetan.co.za
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