The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday said it would be arraigning four persons arrested in connection with the October 1, 2010, bomb blasts in Abuja that claimed the lives of 16 persons. Addressing a press conference at the SSS headquarters in Abuja, the public relations officer of the organisation,

Ms Marilyn Ogar, said that Charles Tombra Okah, one of the known users of the "Jomo Gbomo" pen-name in e-mails purportedly from the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), and four others (names withheld) would be charged to court.




Charles is the younger brother of Henry Okah, a former leader of MEND, who is currently being tried in a South African court on terrorism-related charges.

Ogar further stated that investigations by the service had determined the person that drove and coordinated the vehicles brought into Abuja for the bombings, and the one who directly coordinated the bombings with the fugitive Henry Okah.

The person at whose residence in Port Harcourt the vehicles were wired for detonation and from where they took off for Abuja, the PRO said, had been established, as well as the one that confirmed to his accomplice that he had completed the job.

She pleaded to Nigerians to desist from politicising the issue, noting that several Nigerians were interviewed and released in the course of the investigations.

"We plead with Nigerians to desist from politicising the issue as such tendencies remain a serious concern of the SSS because they promote insecurity and hinder the rapid development this country needs.

"However, we wish to reassure the public that we will not be deterred in our investigations while urging everyone to be more security conscious about our respective environment and also collaborate with security agencies in safeguarding our national interest," she said.

The force public relations officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, when contacted by our correspondent said he was not aware that the suspects were being charged to court and declined to make further comments.

Meanwhile, wife of the detained elder brother of Henry Okah, Mrs. Angela Okah yesterday faulted the claims by the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that the brother was allegedly responsible for the interview granted Aljazeera and the issue of impersonation, saying her husband and her step son are innocent of alleged terrorism charges.

Mrs. Okah said, though the arrest and questioning of suspects are allowed under law, the continued incarceration of her husband, Charles and her step son, Bolaebi Okah by the SSS without access to a legal representation and medication in the last 72 hours is illegal and criminal.

Okah’s elder brother, Charlse was arrested on Saturday at his Apapa, Lagos home alongside his son, Bolaebi Okah and three others by the men of the security operative. Family members and his embattled wife’s efforts to have access to them have proved abortive and they claimed that Chalse is on medication and has one kidney after he was operated upon some years back when he suffered a terminal illness.

Also considered as a source of worry to the family is the son, Bolaebi Okah, who was reported to have just arrived from a treatment in South Africa following a major operation on some parts of his body after a ghastly motor accident in Lagos two months ago.

Mrs. Okah, while speaking in Yenagoa with Leadership on phone, said the claims attributed to Henry Okah was misplaced and should be considered as false, "how can they say such a thing about him. Henry Okah should be brought out to say all this things instead of some persons making claims just to indict my husband and his son."

"The issue of the fundamental human rights of those arrested should be considered. My husband is sick and has only one kidney. My son is not feeling fine. I don't know the kind of country we are in. If you see my son, Bolaebi, the legs is not fully healed. I am worried and the SSS and the president should consider our plight."
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As far as this 1st Oct bombing is concerned, if we do not get the root of the matter, it will still repeat itself over and over again. I am calling on all the security organs of the government to make us feel safe in our country once again. This bomb scare whether real or fake creates panic in our environment and its not good for the country.