Oct 1 bomber sentenced to life imprisonment

Ebiware

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced one of the four suspects standing trial for their involvement in the October 1, 2010 twin bomb blasts that rocked the Eagle Square in Abuja, Edmund Ebiware, to life imprisonment.
This is coming a few days after a South African court also sentenced the mastermind of the bomb attack, Henry Okah, to life imprisonment.
Ebiware was initially arraigned alongside others: Charles Okah, Obi Nwabueze and Tiemkefa Osuvwo (who eventually died in Kuje Prison).
The court had earlier granted Ebiware ‘s request to be separately charged on the grounds that his own offence was different from that of the three others.
The suspects were accused of warring against the state in order to intimidate President Goodluck Jonathan, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.
They were also accused of terrorism and conspiracy to commit treason, contrary to Section 40 (2) of the Criminal Code CAP 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.
Ebiware was specifically accused of withholding information on the planned attack by not using reasonable means to leak the information to the president and security officials in order to foil the planned attack.
Delivering judgement yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that with all the evidence brought by the prosecuting counsel, it was evident that the suspect had been communicating with Henry Okah – which he did not deny while he was being cross-examined.
Justice Kolawole also held that it had been established from all the evidence before him that Ebiware had a foreknowledge of the impending bombing, going by the communication which existed between him and Okah.
The court, therefore, found him guilty having acted contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, which requires anyone in possession of such information to take a step to inform a peace officer.
“Pronouncing the sentence, Justice Kolawole stated: “In the light of all I have said and with regard to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, I doubt if I have the discretion in pronouncing anything less than what the National Assembly has provided for – which is life imprisonment. The convict is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
“The convict, subject to report of good conduct by the superintendent of prison, shall after 32 years take such evidence to the council on prerogative of mercy for a parole.”
Reacting to the judgement, Uche told reporters that he would appeal the sentence as soon as he got a copy of the judgement.