Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, flew into South Africa yesterday for medical treatment, THISDAY checks have revealed.
Okah, first beneficiary of the federal government’s amnesty granted militants, regained his freedom on July 13 after 23 months in detention following his prosecution by the federal government for treason, would also use the opportunity of the visit to reunite with his family.
The MEND leader flew out on Arik Airline flight Friday night to join his wife and other members of his immediate family who have resident permits, THISDAY also gathered.
Okah’s freedom came when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mike Aondoankaa entered a plea of nolle prosequi at the Federal High Court, Jos trying Okah on a charge of treason.
According to him, “The aim is to bring our brothers in the Niger Delta region to the negotiating table and find amicable solution to the problems and in this vein amnesty has been granted.
“Therefore I, Michael Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under my hand this day 13th day of July, 2009 hereby execute the power to enter a nolle prosequi and asked that the accused walk out as a free man,” the AGF submitted.
Meanwhile, MEND yesterday said it would be compelled to resume “with ferocious attacks” on the oil industry at the end of its ceasefire on September 15.
Jomo Gbomo, a MEND spokesman, said in a statement that there was deceit in federal government’s amnesty programmme, alleging that weapons mostly bought by government were displayed yesterday at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“In the midst of sheer deceit, MEND will be compelled to resume with ferocious attacks on the oil industry at the end of our ceasefire on September 15 to prove that weapons being displayed are mostly government-owned and those surrendering them have not been part of the previous campaigns like Hurricane Barbarossa, Piper Alpha and Moses that brought the government to its knees,” Gbomo said.
MEND declared a 60-day ceasefire July 14 and hasn’t carried out any attacks since then.
Hurricane Barbarossa, Piper Alpha and Moses were code names for the “oil wars” declared by MEND during which oil pipelines and other facilities belonging to Shell, Agip and Chevron oil companies were attacked and destroyed in the Niger Delta before its ceasefire.
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