Court Orders Psychiatric Test for Independence Day Bomber

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered that terrorism suspect, Charles Okah be subjected to psychiatric evaluation to ascertain whether he was mentally sound enough for trial.

The judge made the order on Wednesday while ruling on arguments by lawyers for the prosecution and defence on whether or not Okah was fit to stand trial.

Okah is being tried with Obi Nwabueze over the 2010 Independence Day twin bombing in Abuja which caused the death of about 12 people, leaving several others injured.

Four people, believed to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) lead by Henry Okah (currently serving jail term in South Africa) were originally arraigned before the court in December 2011 over the incident.

One of them, Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo a.k.a General Gbokos, died later, while another, Edmund Ebiware, who had his trial conducted...