Charles Okah, who is facing trail for masterminding the twin bomb blasts that went off during the 2010 Independence Day anniversary that killed 12 people and injured many, on Tuesday attempted to commit suicide in court.
Okah, who is being prosecuted along with Obi Nwabueze by the federal government, made the attempt before the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, of the Federal High Court in Abuja as he tried to jump down from the courtroom located on the third floor of the building.
He is reported to have demanded for a break of five minutes to let out his disappointment over his “endless trail” as his lawyers did not show up in court, a situation that was bound to lead to another adjournment.
“I have been incarcerated for about five years now, and I have a family to cater for. My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father. I am tired of this endless trial,” he lamented.
Upon pouring out his feelings, he got on a chair in the courtroom situated on the third floor of a five-storey building and immediately moved towards the window.
He thereafter attempted breaking the louvers of the window and jumping down but was intercepted as some lawyers and other litigants caught and held him down.
Following the drama, Justice Kolawole adjourned the matter to October 20 for continuation of trial.
Okah was first paraded in court on October 22, 2010 alongside five others before Chief Magistrate Oyebola Oyewumi of Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court,Abuja.
On January 13, 2011, the accused persons, who also included Edmund Ebiware, and Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo, a.k.a General Gbokos, were re-arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court Abuja on one-count charge with 22 particulars of overt acts of treason and another eight-count charge of terrorism.
But Ebiware was tried separately and has been sentenced to life imprisonment while Osvwo was found dead during trial.
In the course of the trial, Okah had been subjected to series of psychiatric tests at the National Hospital, Abuja, on the orders of the court, after his health deteriorated.
The suspect’s health issues hampered the smooth hearing of the matter until the court ruled on June 9, 2014, that Okah was fit to stand trial.
But since his arraignment, the trial has been prolonged till date, with the court admitting April 13, 2015, some exhibits tendered by the federal government.
An old Mazda 626 car with registration number LAGOS BY 318 FKJ, military wears and camping materials are among the exhibits that were admitted against the accused persons.
Other exhibits are 10 camouflage bulletproof jackets; 30 black military belts; 21 black jungle booths; five green pairs of camouflage jungle booths; five pairs of brown camouflage jungle booths and 34 pairs of water bottle holsters.