HENRY Okah’s brother Charles and some other suspects of the October 1 bombings yesterday met face-to-face in custody.

Okah, former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), is standing trial in a South African court over the explosions in which 12 people died. His brother, Charles, is one of the suspects being held in Abuja.

It was also learnt that 30 houses were searched in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, for about five hours before the suspected bomber could be arrested on Monday.
The State Security Service (SSS) has denied the exoneration of the Director-General of IBB Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, of alleged involvement in the explosions.

The Nation learnt that there was a tinge of drama when Okah met with other suspects in custody.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Those in custody are the owners of the house in which the bomb vehicles were wired; those who drove the cars to Abuja; and one of those who set off the bombs.


“Also, we have succeeded in establishing relationship or partnership between Charles Okah and some key suspects earlier arrested.
“In fact, Charles Okah was shocked when he was brought before the other suspects in custody. He never knew that we had gone to the extent of arresting these suspects.

“They are all members of a ring which had been working together all along. They were all shocked how we succeeded in picking up each member of the syndicate.”
Asked if any foreign security agency was involved in the covert operation that led to the arrest of the suspects, the source said: “No foreign involvement.”
The source said investigation was still ongoing to determine the extent of the involvement of each of the suspects.

“All I can tell you is that all the suspects, including Charles Okah, have made useful statements.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “No date has been fixed for the arraignment of all the suspects.”
He said: “We are still investigating a few clues and looking for some suspects too. The truth is that we had to search 30 houses in Port Harcourt before we could arrest the man who set off the bomb.

“He was almost sneaking out when our operatives swooped on him.”
On Okah’s fate, a source in the Presidency said: “The outcome of the trial in South Africa will determine the position of the Federal Government – whether to extradite him or not.
“But left to the government, if he is found guilty in South Africa, he should serve his jail terms there.”

The SSS denied exonerating Dokpesi.
Dokpesi was arrested by the SSS on October 4, 2010 in connection with the twin-bomb explosions.
The Assistant Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja.

The statement said: “The attention of the Service has been drawn to the misrepresentation of its recent briefing by segments of the media.
“We wish to categorically state that the Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi (Chief), was arrested in connection with information disclosed about him by the suspects in custody.

“The fact of his subsequent release does not in any form amount to his exoneration since investigations are still ongoing.
“The Service restates its call on everyone to avoid the politicisation of an issue of serious public safety.”

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