Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Accused Nigeria rebel leader given amnesty in treason case

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Accused Nigerian rebel leader Henry Okah was released on Monday after the government dropped treason and gun trafficking charges against him. The government alleges that Okah is the leader of the rebel group Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), which has been conducting armed attacks against oil production facilities in the delta. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua agreed to grant unconditional pardon to MEND members that laid down their arms as part of a June amnesty agreement intended to lead to a cessation of hostilities. Also on Monday, MEND claimed responsibility for an attack on an oil transfer dock in Lagos, its first attack outside of the Niger Delta region and a sign that some MEND members do not plan to accept amnesty. In April 2008, Okah was formally charged with treason in a closed court hearing after a secret February extradition. He was arrested in Angola in September 2007 after attempting to buy weapons and explosives. MEND has attacked pipelines, refineries and oil workers in an attempt to force changes in the distribution of wealth generated by Nigeria's petroleum industry.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 13, 2009 (boomark / email).