i suggest you read instead of spamming

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5632517-146/dokpesi_not_guilty___.csp


Dokpesi not guilty

By Soji Bamidele

October 20, 2010 08:34AM
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The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday cleared Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications and director-general of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organisation, of any involvement in the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja.

At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, the service, which detained and questioned Mr Dokpesi for 13 hours shortly after the bomb blast, said that his arrest was not in connection with the explosion.

Mr. Dokpesi was arrested on October 4, less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the nation’s security forces were closing-in on the sponsors of the twin bombings. His arrest was connected to the two text messages allegedly received by suspects in police custody asking, “if Dokpesi has paid the balance” and “inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office”.

In clearing him yesterday, Marilyn Ogar, assistant director, public relations, made a tacit statement that, “The SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will.” The service however disclosed that it has been able to establish the identity of the persons who drove and coordinated the vehicles that were brought into Abuja for the October 1 bombing. It said there were five suspects, including Charles Tombra Okah, A MEND leader and Henry Okah’s younger brother.

Mrs Ogar said the vehicles were wired for detonation at Charles Okah’s house in Port Harcourt and driven to Abuja. She also said the service identified Charles Okah as ‘Jomo Gbomo,’ the sender of the emails that warned of the blasts five days earlier.

The Service stressed that its investigations were not yet complete, but that the suspects will soon be charged to court.

The twin bomb blasts that rocked Abuja during the golden jubilee celebrations on October 1 killed 16 people and injured 67 others.

Another alert

However, another email was sent to reporters yesterday by ‘Jomo Gbomo’ repeating an earlier warning that MEND was planning another attack on Abuja.

The sender used the same Zoom Mobile modem that was used last week to send the previous alert. The previous alert, according to a NEXT investigation originates from a moving vehicle in Lagos.

Yesterday’s mail also originated from Lagos. Our investigation revealed that it was sent from Massey Street on Lagos Island.

In the mail, Mr Gbomo said, “Out of security concerns, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, until further notice, will no longer entertain any enquires. Henceforth, we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.”

No connection with Okah

In an earlier statement, Mr. Babangida had described any suggestion linking him or Mr. Dokpesi to the bombers as ‘idiotic’. In distancing himself from the act Mr. Dokpesi had said , ‘‘I was never present at the bomb blast site; I never attended to any group of persons that are involved in the bomb blasts and I have never associated with Mr. Henry Okah. I have never corresponded with him either directly or through a third party, nor has my principal, Ibrahim Babangida, in any way associated or collaborated with anybody.” He added, “When I came in, I was shown a hand-set where somebody was asking whether he had collected the N4 million from Dokpesi and was asked whether I knew anything about the text message. I replied that “to start with, I am not the owner of the hand-set and the message was not sent to me. I did not even know who the party was and who and who that exchanged the text message.” He had said, “I have never met Mr. Henry Okah. I have never dealt with him. I have never communicated with him and I will not recognize him if I see him”, adding that he was only being victimised because he was supporting Mr. Babangida.

Counsel asks court to grant Okah bail

By Ruona Agbroko

October 20, 2010 03:41PM
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Rudi Krause, counsel to Henry Okah, has told presiding judge, Hein Louw, that he is “not bound to ensure the interests of a community thousands of kilometres away from this court.”

Mr Krause was responding to points raised by prosecution lawyer, Shaun Abrahams, on Monday when he cross-examined Mr Okah. “You have no onus to save face in the international community by refusing the applicant bail," Mr Krause said, urging the judge not to give in to “statements of ideology”, which he attributed to the prosecution.

Mr Krause said Mr Okah should be granted bail because the South African state’s case is “a case subject to substantial and serious doubt.” He also said Mr Okah is entitled to medical treatment “which he will not receive in prison.”

According to Mr Krause, based on “the conflicting statements” issued by the Nigerian government, “little or no reliance can be placed on any evidence emanating from that part of the world.” He cited the contents of an affidavit which the prosecution stated it received from the Nigerian government, saying the document was “sweeping, vague, to the extent that it is actually embarrassing, ”

Speaking on Mr. Okah's prior arrest in Angola, Mr. Krause said: “The applicant (Mr. Okah) did not abscond or evade justice in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has previously not blinked an eye in conjuring up and fabricating evidence against the applicant as they are doing now.”

Prosecution to reopen case

Subsequently, Mr. Abrahams asked the court for permission to reopen its case against Mr. Okah. He said this was to enable him “communicate with the Nigerian authorities to be sure I won't jeopardise their investigations.”

Mr. Abrahams had been told by Judge Louw that he needs “something more than mere speculation,” as closing arguments were being heard in court today. Judge Louw said while he had sympathy for the State “not wanting to disclose prematurely its investigations, there is a vagueness to his (Mr. Abrahams’) suggestion as to the accused's participation in these offences.”

He thereafter granted prosecution the opportunity to “reopen the case”, but warned that he would withdraw the privilege if the State is unable to present more evidence."
The case has been adjourned until tomorrow.

mikeansy:

This is why the South African Lawyers and Judges handling Henry Okah case can boldly say in a court of law that any correspondence coming out of Nigeria should be suspect and can not be relied upon.

Mrs Ogah says one thing on Tuesday and then says the direct opposite on Wednesday.

Instead of questioning what is clear flip flop some come online to abuse others.

Beaf:

The fact is, in the present matter, nobody can point out a single sentence where the SSS let Dokpesi off the hook. The story is a forgery for willing ears. If such a sentence occurs anywhere, would you be so kind as to point it out?

monkeyleg:

@mikeansy,

I beg help me tell them, cos I will soon be accused as usual of tribe hating

Five people, including Charles Okah, the younger brother of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigeria Delta, Mr. Henry Okah, will be arraigned by the State Security Service in connection with the October 1 twin car bomb blasts in Abuja.

The Assistant Director, Public Relations of the service, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, who made this known at a news conference on Tuesday, did not name the other four suspects.

But she hinted that one of them was a man arrested on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for allegedly assisting Okah to coordinate the blasts.

Charles was arrested by SSS operatives on Saturday at his Apapa, Lagos residence alongside his domestic staff, Kuffre; Okah’s son, Boloebi; Shola Ladoja; and a visitor.

Their arrests took place shortly after MEND through a statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, had warned that a fresh bomb attack was planned for Abuja.

The SSS on October 4 said it had arrested and detained nine suspects, four of whom were arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s court on October 8.

Ogar, at the news conference in Abuja, also said the detention of the Chairman of DAAR Communications and Director- General of IBB Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was not in connection with the blasts.

“I am not aware that the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s invitation to the Head Office of SSS in Asokoro was in connection with having a link to the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja. SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will,” she said.

Ogar, who did not say why Dokpesi was quizzed, disclosed that the service had found out that the bombs used for the blasts were rigged up in Port Harcourt before being driven to Abuja.

She said,“Investigation by the service has determined the person that drove and coordinated the vehicles brought into Abuja for the bombings, and the one who directly coordinated the bombings with Henry Okah.

“The individual at whose residence in Port Harcourt the vehicles were wired for detonation and from where they took off for Abuja; the one (who) confirmed to his accomplice that he had completed the job, immediately after the bombings.”

The SSS spokesperson said that Charles and the “four other suspects” would be dragged to court immediately after the completion of the investigations into the incident that left 16 people dead and 66 others injured.

“Charles Okah, one of the known users of the name, ‘Jomo Gbomo’ and four other suspects would be charged to court accordingly, ”Ogar assured.

She said that the investigations were nearing completion and pleaded with Nigerians to stop politicising the issue (blasts) “as such tendencies , promote insecurity and hinder the rapid development” of the country. Ogar also urged all Nigerians to be more security conscious.

But on Tuesday, MEND sent out another email warning of fresh attacks. It advised Nigerians, especially those resident in Abuja, to stay away from the campaign rallies of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It said in the statement by Gbomo that the reasons were because of the arrest and detention of its “respected brothers,” the “polarisation of the country,” especially the Niger Delta region by President Jonathan, as well as corruption.

The group said it would henceforth not entertain enquires but would only issue warnings and statements through the media.

The terse statement reads, “Out of security concerns, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta until further notice, will no longer entertain any enquires. Henceforth, we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.

“We hereby repeat our warnings to the residents of Abuja, the heart of the country and to all persons who will be interested in attending the political campainge(sic) organised by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. This is due to the split he has initiated in our country that had enjoyed a united front politically, and the corruption and split in the Niger Delta community.

“Lastly, the arrest and detention of our respected brothers of the land and the assassination of their character has(sic) become a great concern that cannot be ignored.”

Okah is currently facing trial in a magistrate court in Johannesburg, in connection with the Abuja bombings.

South African prosecutors had at the hearing of his bail application on Monday, told the court that Okah gave last-minute instructions to the militants to detonate the bombs.

The President, Bayelsa Leaders’ Forum, Rivers State chapter, Chief Eneh Arisimo, has, however, described MEND’s latest threat as unacceptable.

Eneh called on Nigerians to disregard the threat and continue to support Jonathan’s aspiration.

He observed that MEND had abandoned the “objective of its existence” and advised the organisation to avoid being used by politicians.

The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday cleared Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications and director-general of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organisation, of any involvement in the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja.

At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, the service, which detained and questioned Mr Dokpesi for 13 hours shortly after the bomb blast, said that his arrest was not in connection with the explosion.

Mr. Dokpesi was arrested on October 4, less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the nation’s security forces were closing-in on the sponsors of the twin bombings. His arrest was connected to the two text messages allegedly received by suspects in police custody asking, “if Dokpesi has paid the balance” and “inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office”.

In clearing him yesterday, Marilyn Ogar, assistant director, public relations, made a tacit statement that, “The SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will.” The service however disclosed that it has been able to establish the identity of the persons who drove and coordinated the vehicles that were brought into Abuja for the October 1 bombing. It said there were five suspects, including Charles Tombra Okah, A MEND leader and Henry Okah’s younger brother.

Mrs Ogar said the vehicles were wired for detonation at Charles Okah’s house in Port Harcourt and driven to Abuja. She also said the service identified Charles Okah as ‘Jomo Gbomo,’ the sender of the emails that warned of the blasts five days earlier.

The Service stressed that its investigations were not yet complete, but that the suspects will soon be charged to court.

The twin bomb blasts that rocked Abuja during the golden jubilee celebrations on October 1 killed 16 people and injured 67 others.

Another alert

However, another email was sent to reporters yesterday by ‘Jomo Gbomo’ repeating an earlier warning that MEND was planning another attack on Abuja.

The sender used the same Zoom Mobile modem that was used last week to send the previous alert. The previous alert, according to a NEXT investigation originates from a moving vehicle in Lagos.

Yesterday’s mail also originated from Lagos. Our investigation revealed that it was sent from Massey Street on Lagos Island.

In the mail, Mr Gbomo said, “Out of security concerns, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, until further notice, will no longer entertain any enquires. Henceforth, we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.”

No connection with Okah

In an earlier statement, Mr. Babangida had described any suggestion linking him or Mr. Dokpesi to the bombers as ‘idiotic’. In distancing himself from the act Mr. Dokpesi had said , ‘‘I was never present at the bomb blast site; I never attended to any group of persons that are involved in the bomb blasts and I have never associated with Mr. Henry Okah. I have never corresponded with him either directly or through a third party, nor has my principal, Ibrahim Babangida, in any way associated or collaborated with anybody.” He added, “When I came in, I was shown a hand-set where somebody was asking whether he had collected the N4 million from Dokpesi and was asked whether I knew anything about the text message. I replied that “to start with, I am not the owner of the hand-set and the message was not sent to me. I did not even know who the party was and who and who that exchanged the text message.” He had said, “I have never met Mr. Henry Okah. I have never dealt with him. I have never communicated with him and I will not recognize him if I see him”, adding that he was only being victimised because he was supporting Mr. Babangida.

Beaf:

Mediocrity is not having the faculties to comprehend simple sentences. I am still waiting for anyone to salvage themselves and provide a quote that can be interpreted to mean the SSS exonorated Dokpesi. Thats got to be the simplest challenge.

Ogar, at the news conference in Abuja, also said the detention of the Chairman of DAAR Communications and Director- General of IBB Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was not in connection with the blasts.

“I am not aware that the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s invitation to the Head Office of SSS in Asokoro was in connection with having a link to the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja. SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will,” she said.

Bomb blasts: SSS to prosecute Okah’s brother, four others
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 04:10
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By Ben Auta

The State Security Services (SSS) has confirmed that Mr. Charles Tombra Okah alias Jomo Gbomo and four other unnamed suspects would be charged to court for their involvement in the October 1, twin bomb blasts that claimed the lives of 12 persons in Abuja.
Briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja , the spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogah, said that the agency has established facts on the identity of the person, who drove the explosive-laden vehicle into Abuja and coordinated the bombings.
But even as Ogah briefed the press, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) issued a new warning to Abuja residents to stay away from political gatherings the President is billed to attend.
It also pleaded for the stoppage of media queries about its activities, citing "security concerns."
The two-paragraph statement, which appeared hurriedly written, nonetheless came from MEND's traditional e-mail address, and was signed by another 'Jomo Gbomo,' giving credence to the argument that Jomo Gbomo is an alias borne by any MEND member signing a document on behalf of the organisatiion.
The statement reads: "Out of security concerns, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND, until further notice, will no longer entertain any enquires. Henceforth, we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.
"We hereby repeat our warnings to the residents of Abuja, the heart of the country and to all persons who will be interested in attending the political campaign organised by the President Goodluck Jonathan. This is due to the split he has initiated in our country that had enjoyed a united front politically and the corruption and split in the Niger Delta community."
Briefing newsmen, Ogah did not clearly state the date when the five will be taken to court or the charges that would be brought against them.
Ogah also said that the person that coordinated the bombings is connected to Henry Okah, as she added that the SSS has also arrested the individuals whose residence in Port Harcourt , the bombs were wired for detonation before being taken to Abuja .
"Consequently, Charles Tombra Okah, one of the known users of the name Jomo Gbomo, and four other suspects would be charged to court accordingly," she said.
Charles Okah, Henry Okah's brother, was arrested in Lagos on Saturday, a day after a warning signed by Jomo Gbomo was e-mailed to news organizations, stating that another bomb attack was planned to explode in Abuja.
On the issue of the invitation of the Chairman of Daar Communications to the SSS headquarters, Ms Ogah, said "I am not aware that the Chairman of Daar Communications was invited because of the bombings, the SSS is a public service and people can come and go at will but the only names we can give now is that of Henry Okah and Charles Tombra Okah," she said.
She also said that many Nigerians were invited during investigations, saying that the agency will not be deterred in its investigations to unearth the true perpetrators of the October 1, bombings and called on Nigerians to desist from politicising the issue.
The SSS had at an earlier briefing said that nine persons were under investigations, as it had proof of their involvement in the jubilee anniversary celebrations bomb blasts.
She denied any rivalry between the SSS or any other security agency in the country.
According to her, the SSS has identified the owner of the Port Harcourt residence where the vehicles used in the bombings were wired, as well as the person who coordinated the attacks with Henry Okah.
Furthermore, the SSS said it had also identified the person who arranged for the vehicles to be driven to Abuja and the suspect, who confirmed the operation had been a success after the blasts.

Beaf:

If anyone takes this to mean Dokpesi is off the hook, I weep for their understanding of simple sentences.
She has simply stated that she is not aware of Dokpesi's reason for being at the SSS head office, and since she did not profer a reason, commonsense says that she did not wish to speak to the press about it.

 Ogar, at the news conference in Abuja, also said the detention of the Chairman of DAAR Communications and Director- General of IBB Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was not in connection with the blasts.

“I am not aware that the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s invitation to the Head Office of SSS in Asokoro was in connection with having a link to the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja. SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will,” she said.

Beaf:

If anyone takes this to mean Dokpesi is off the hook, I weep for their understanding of simple sentences.
She has simply stated that she is not aware of Dokpesi's reason for being at the SSS head office, and since she did not profer a reason, commonsense says that she did not wish to speak to the press about it.

Abuja — Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the nation's security were closing-in on those who sponsored Friday bombings in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there are indications that the Director of the IBB Campaign Organization, Chief Raymond Dokpesi may have been arrested in connection with the Bomb blast that almost marred the Nigeria's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Investigation revealed may have been picked up in the early hours of yesterday, following a revealing Short Message Service (SMS) text message sent to the Smartphone of one of the suspects in police, asking "if Dokpesi has paid the balance", and another SMS "inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office".

The alleged arrest of Dokpesi yesterday, it was learnt, bring to Seven the number suspects so far arrested out of the Nine in the wanted list of the police.

According to top security sources, Dokpesi was being detained for interrogation by the security agencies, following "a text message found in the phone of one of the arrested suspects. The text message reads: have you collected the balance from Dokpesi?"

The source said, "this was said to have send alarm signals across the nation's security apparatus, since the suspect concerned is considered to be neckdeep inn the bombing plot"

Vanguard further learnt that another text massage, said to be more dramatic, allegedly sent to the phone of another suspect in custody which reads: "lets meet at IBB campaign office"; thereby leading to what security operatives referred to as "a high tech sting operation which in a matter of hours, has netted a wider ring of suspects.

It was also gathered that a suspect who never knew he was already under surveillance confided in a friend that "na we do am…, meet me make I brief u", is currently confessing more details to the security agencies.

More worrisome, it was told, is the confession of another suspect who alleged that "in the last two weeks he bought a brand new Muraino SUV from funds received from Dopkesi".

Part of the confession, according to our source, includes a directive from Mr Henry Okah that should distablise the government since Jonathan "was not ready to put serious money on the table".

By Soji Bamidele

October 20, 2010 08:34AM



The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday cleared Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications and director-general of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organisation, of any involvement in the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja.

At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, the service, which detained and questioned Mr Dokpesi for 13 hours shortly after the bomb blast, said that his arrest was not in connection with the explosion.

Mr. Dokpesi was arrested on October 4, less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the nation’s security forces were closing-in on the sponsors of the twin bombings. His arrest was connected to the two text messages allegedly received by suspects in police custody asking, “if Dokpesi has paid the balance” and “inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office”.

In clearing him yesterday, Marilyn Ogar, assistant director, public relations, made a tacit statement that, “The SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will.” The service however disclosed that it has been able to establish the identity of the persons who drove and coordinated the vehicles that were brought into Abuja for the October 1 bombing. It said there were five suspects, including Charles Tombra Okah, A MEND leader and Henry Okah’s younger brother.

Mrs Ogar said the vehicles were wired for detonation at Charles Okah’s house in Port Harcourt and driven to Abuja. She also said the service identified Charles Okah as ‘Jomo Gbomo,’ the sender of the emails that warned of the blasts five days earlier.

The Service stressed that its investigations were not yet complete, but that the suspects will soon be charged to court.

The twin bomb blasts that rocked Abuja during the golden jubilee celebrations on October 1 killed 16 people and injured 67 others.

Another alert

However, another email was sent to reporters yesterday by ‘Jomo Gbomo’ repeating an earlier warning that MEND was planning another attack on Abuja.

The sender used the same Zoom Mobile modem that was used last week to send the previous alert. The previous alert, according to a NEXT investigation originates from a moving vehicle in Lagos.

Yesterday’s mail also originated from Lagos. Our investigation revealed that it was sent from Massey Street on Lagos Island.

In the mail, Mr Gbomo said, “Out of security concerns, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, until further notice, will no longer entertain any enquires. Henceforth, we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.”

mikeansy:

You have the right to be selective about what section of your own post you want to highlight in bold. But you can not change the meaning of that post because it is written in English and its meaning can not be lost in translation.

[b]She said emphatically that his arrest was not in connection to the explossion.[/b]Same post from you below with the most important part highlighted

So this whole thing is clear. The SSS/Presidency are looking for an exit strategy. They want to do a U-Turn but clearly do not know how to do it due to ego.

But they need to remember that our national security is bigger than their ego. You can not rope your political opponents into anything you like merely because you have the means to abuse our security services.

mikeansy:

What Mrs Ogar claimed was that Dokpesi was not connected to the bomb blast.

Why do you need to clear someone of terrorism charges when you are claiming you have not arrested them for terrorism?

are folks serious or are they just learning to play with semantics?

Mr dokpesi does not need clearance from anybody. They can only charge him to court if they have evidence of wrongdoing. If they have let him go without charging him to court then he is without blemish like the rest of us .

Beaf:

We are missing the point that Dokpesi was ordered to report back today. Indeed, I believe he will be required to report back everyday, SSS is just being civilised; the case is under international focus. Dokpesi will eventually be remanded in custody and charged, once all loose ends have been tied.

df2006:

^^^^^haba oga! what in the word secret service don,t you understand? this woman is not oblige to tell you everything, how much more anything! as it is investigations are ongoing! this is what i have been trying to tell you since this whole thing started, but you are so quick to jump in to so many conclusions, i tire for you o!!

“I am not aware that the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s invitation to the Head Office of SSS in Asokoro was in connection with having a link to the October 1 bomb blast in Abuja. SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will,”

mikeansy:

What Mrs Ogar claimed was that Dokpesi was not connected to the bomb blast.

Why do you need to clear someone of terrorism charges when you are claiming you have not arrested them for terrorism?

The volte-face by the service spawned confusion among investigators probing the blasts as some of them told THE PUNCH in Abuja that they were thrown off-balance when they read in the newspapers on Wednesday that Dokpesi had been given a clean bill of health.

“We were surprised that the agency could say that Dokpesi had been cleared. His connection to one of the suspects in custody established that fact he knew something about the incident,” one of the investigators said.

She said, “The attention of the service has been drawn to the misrepresentation of its recent press briefing by segments of the media. We wish to categorically state that the Chairman of Daar communications, Raymond Dokpesi, was arrested in connection to information disclosed about him by the suspects in custody.



“The fact of his subsequent release does not in anyway amount to his exoneration since investigations are still ongoing.