/ 24 February 2011

Hawks: Okah’s cell raided, contraband recovered

Hawks: Okah's Cell Raided

Cellphones, chargers, a map and papers with telephone numbers were seized in a raid on the prison cell of Nigerian terror accused Henry Okah, Pretoria News reported on Thursday.

Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela confirmed the search which occurred on Tuesday night, to the publication.

Alleged terror threats by Okah from his cell apparently sparked the raid, with Nigerian authorities alerting the South African government.

Okah was denied bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court late last year.

He faces charges of terrorism, relating to the October 1 twin car bombing in Abuja, Nigeria, which killed 12 people and injured 36.

Okah failed to convince the court that he was not the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, which claimed responsibility for the Independence Day bombings. — Sapa