The Nigerian Prison Services, NPS, has described rumours about the death of Charles Okah, who is being prosecuted for masterminding the twin bomb blasts that went off during the 2010 Independence Day anniversary, as false.

Okah, who was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Gabriel Kolawole at the Federal High Court in Abuja, attempted to commit suicide in court on Tuesday by trying to jump out of the third floor of the court building.

He was later rumoured dead on Wednesday but the NPS spokesman, Francis Enobor in a statement dismissed the rumour, insisting that Okah is alive and well.

“Charles Okah is not dead. The information you received is false and please disregard it,” Enobor said.

By some accounts, after he failed to jump out of the third floor window at the court on Tuesday, the accused complained of depression and ill health when he was returned to his prison cell and after which he was taken to the National Hospital. He was rumoured to have died at the hospital in unknown circumstances.

Besides the terse statement, the NPS authorities have not taken further action to reassure the public and the family of the accused person that he is, indeed, alive.