October 1 bombing: Court sentences Ebiware to life imprisoment

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja One of the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010, Independence Day bomb blasts that killed 12 persons, Mr Edmund Ebiware, was yesterday convicted and sentenced to a life imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, with effect from October 3, 2010. The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole sentenced Ebiware after he was found guilty on the entire three-count charge preferred against him by the Federal Government. The court, in its judgment that lasted five hours, said that it was satisfied that Ebiware, had prior knowledge that the convicted erstwhile leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, planned to detonate bombs in Abuja but made no effort to report the plans to appropriate authorities. Relying on the provisions of Section 40 (b) of the Criminal Code Act, Justice Kola wole, said there was prima-facie nexus that established the accused person as an accessory to Mr Okah, stressing that, “anyone who is aware of an act of terrorism but fails to report same to the President, a Governor, Security agent or a Peace Officer in order to prevent the commission of the crime, is liable to a life imprisonment.”

The wife of the convict, Tessy Ebiware with her husband Edmund Ebiware after he was sentenced to life imprisonment at Federal High Court Abuja on Friday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan Besides, the court said it was convinced that the accused person was in regular contact with Mr Okah prior to the Independence Day attack. “It is my considered view that the prosecution was able to prove the elements of the charge against the accused person beyond every reasonable doubt,” the judge said. Meanwhile, the court ordered that the accused should be entitled to parole after 32-years in the event that he maintains good conduct, noting that such gesture will be subject to recommendation by both Prison officers and the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy. Reacting to the verdict, Counsel to Ebiware, Mr Goddy Uche, said they would go on appeal.