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The trial of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, is to continue in camera as the court yesterday favoured the application sought by the federal government that the trial be conducted in camera.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Salisu Aliyu, had sought leave of the court on behalf of the federal government, asking to hold the trial in camera, while not allowing any press coverage, while the venue of the trial be kept secret, citing security reasons as he stressed that some of the witnesses to be taken would come from a wide range of quarters including military personnel who are being court marshalled. The trial judge, Justice Stephen Adah, while ruling on the submission, agreed that the trial would henceforth be held in camera and barred journalists from further coverage of the proceedings. Justice Adah, while ruling on whether the trial of the Niger Delta militant would be opened to the public, made it clear that henceforth, journalists would be barred from covering the trial while they cannot report any part of the proceedings unless taken from the brief given by the court. He warned against flouting the order saying any publication that contravenes the court would not be taken it lightly with any newspaper that contravenes its order on the trial. As the trial proceeded yesterday, MEND leader, Okah, refused to take any plea saying he cannot do so as he is not fully aware of the charges against him. His counsel, Femi Falana, argued that the trial cannot continue since his client did not enter any plea, stressing that for the trial to continue, it would then mean that his client had taken a plea. But the trial judge entered a plea of "not guilty" for the Niger Delta militant saying the trial would continue. As the trial continued, Okah told the court he was not given an opportunity to go through the charges to make a submission and alleged that he was tortured while in detention which he said, has made it difficult for him to go through the charges and understand what he was been charged for. He said he was being kept in a dungeon with only a small bulb to light the room and has not been able to see the sun for the period he was being held, adding that he has only seen light on three occasions. He added that henceforth remaining mute would be his position on the matter as he is has not been allowed to come to terms with the charges which he was been held and tried. The trial had been put to June 10 for further hearing.
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